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History 


OF  IHt. 

Diocese  of  Ferns. 


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in  2017  with  funding  from 
Boston  Library  Consortium  Member  Libraries 


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o 


THE 


History  of  the 

Diocese  of  Ferns 


By 

W.  H,  Grattan  Flood, 

Mus.D.,  National  University  of  Ireland; 

Member  of  the  Committee  of 

The  Catholic  Record  Society  of  Ireland. 


Waterford : 
DOWNEY  & CO. 

1916. 


"bxisot; 

F la  \ 


To  THE 

MOST  REV.  DR.  BROWNE, 

Lord  Bishop  of  Ferns, 

The  Venerated  Successor  of  St.  Af.dan, 
This  Volume  is 
Respectfully  Dedicated, 

AS  A MARK  OF  GRATITUDE  FOR  MANY  FAVOURS, 
BY 

THE  AUTHOR. 


PREFACE 


pOR  close  on  twenty  years  I had  been  collecting  material  for 

an  exhaustive  History  of  the  Diocese  of  Ferns,  with  no 
further  object  in  view  than  to  preserve  historical  data  that  might 
be  of  use  to  some  future  writer.  No  history  of  the  ancient  diocese 
founded  by  St.  Aedan  has  previously  appeared,  and,  therefore,  the 
need  of  such  a work  is  obvious.  However,  the  carrying  out  of 
this  scheme  in  its  entiret\'  would  involve  the  production  of  four 
good-sized  volumes,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  such  a work  would  meet 
with  support  commensurate  with  the  cost.  Besides,  the  time  is 
not  yet  ripe  for  a thoroughh’  exhaustive  work  of  the  kind,  on  the 
lines  of  Canon  Carrigan's  admirable  History  and  Antiquities  of 
the  Diocese  of  Ossory,  and  therefore  I set  myself  the  task  of  sifting 
and  compressing  my  material  in  such  a manner  that  the  reader 
may  be  presented  with  a well-ordered  narrative  of  diocesan 
history  in  one  volume. 

Personally,  I should  have  preferred  that  a priest  of  the 
diocese  of  Ferns  had  undertaken  the  work,  but  on  consultation 
with  the  Bishop,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Browne,  his  lordship  urged  on  me 
that  I myself  should  set  about  the  task,  and  not  only  gave  me 
every  assistance  in  regard  to  research  but  generously  undertook 
the  financial  responsibility  of  publication. 

At  first  I had  intended  to  treat  the  parishes  as  they  stood  in 
pre- Reformation  days,  but  on  second  consideration  I thought  it 
better  to  give  the  history  of  the  Catholic  arrangement  of  the 
parishes  as  they  now  stand.  This  plan  seemed  the  more  desirable 
from  the  fact  that  in  some  cases,  like  M'exford  and  New  Ross,  the 
present  parishes  include  from  four  to  a dozen  parishes  of  the  older 
arrangement.  Moreover,  quite  a number  of  the  old  parishes  were 
very  small  and  were  served  by  vicars  from  the  monasteries,  while 
in  not  a few  cases  the  parish  churches  were  merely  free  chapels. 
For  convenience  sake,  therefore,  I giv^e  the  history  of  the  parishes 
in  the  order  of  the  four  Deaneries,  viz.,  those  of  Enniscorthy, 
Gorey,  New  Ross,  and  Wexford. 

It  w'as  no  easy  task  amid  the  duties  of  a busy  professional 
life  to  explore  the  ancient  monuments  of  the  diocese,  and  to  take 
extracts  from  any  documents  bearing  on  the  diocese  of  Ferns  in 
the  Record  Offices  of  London  and  Dublin,  and  in  the  various 
Dublin  libraries.  The  State  Papers,  Patent  and  Close  Rolls,  Pipe 
Rolls,  Exchequer  Rolls,  Reports  of  the  Historical  MSS.  Com- 
mission, Reports  of  the  Deputy  Keeper,  and  kindred  matter  have 

vii. 


been  freely  utilised.  In  particular,  the  Calendars  of  Papal  Letters 
(of  which  eleven  volumes  have  now  been  published)  have 
furnished  a considerable  amount  of  data  between  the  years  1200 
and  1460. 

It  only  remains  to  thank  many  kind  friends  for  much  valued 
help.  Father  Fitzhenry,  Adm.,  Enniscorthy  Cathedral,  was  ever 
kindness  personified,  and  I must  express  my  deep  obligations  to 
him  for  his  unvarying  interest  in  the  present  work.  Father 
Thomas  O'Byrne  was  also  extremely  kind  in  placing  his  notes  at 
my  disposal,  and  in  reading  my  proofs.  Canon  Sheil,  P.P.,  Bree, 
gave  me  much  information  in  regard  to  diocesan  matters  in  the 
early  years  of  the  19th  century.  I am  also  indebted  to  the  late 
Archdeacon  Whitty,  the  late  Dean  Kavanagh,  P.P.,  V.G.. 
Archdeacon  Doyle ; Canon  O’Neill,  Canon  Meehan,  Canon 
O’Brien,  Canon  O'Connor,  Canon  Sheridan,  Canon  Browne, 
Canon  Quigley,  Canon  Lennon,  Canon  Fortune,  Rev.  James 
Long.  P.P.,  Rev.  Murtagh  Sullivan,  F’  P..  Rev.  John  Rossiter, 
M.S.S.,  Rev.  James  Crosbie,  C.C.,  Rev.  J.  Rossiter,  C.C..  Rev.  P. 
Cummins,  C.C.,  Sir  Thomas  H.  Grattan  Esmonde,  Miss  Kathleen 
Browne,  Mr.  N.  Murphy,  Mr.  E.  O’Cullen,  and  others. 

d'he  almost  total  disappearance  of  diocesan  records,  the 
absence  of  the  Taxation  of  Ferns  for  1306  (one  of  the  two 
Taxations  in  Ireland  that  cannot  be  traced),  the  very  imperfect 
parochial  registers  prior  to  1830,  and  the  burning  of  records 
during  the  ’98  Insurrection,  will  satisfactorily  account  for  the 
enormous  difficulties  that  had  to  be  faced,  but  I have  spared  no 
pains  to  fill  up  the  lacunae  from  reliable  sources.  Though  I do 
not  wish  to  minimise  the  value  of  the  Ordnance  Survey  Letters 
of  O’ Donovan  and  other  Irish  scholars,  yet,  while  occasionally 
making  use  of  them,  I have  found  them  on  the  whole  unsatisfactory. 
Cardinal  Moran’s  works,  especially  his  Spicilegium  Ossoriense 
(3  "Vols.)  hav’^  proved  invaluable,  as  also  Father  Costello’s 
De  Annatis  Hibernian  and  Theiner's  Vetera  Mcnumenta. 

I now  leave  the  work,  with  all  its  shortcomings,  in  the  hands 
of  an  indulgent  public,  and  I shall  conclude  this  short  Preface  in 
the  words  of  the  learned  Camden : — “ If  any  there  be  which  are 
desirous  to  be  strangers  in  their  own  soil,  and  foreigners  in  their 
own  city,  they  may  so  continue,  and  therein  flatter  themselves. 
For  such  I have  not  written  these  lines  and  taken  these  pains.” 

W.  H.  Grattan  Flood. 

Enniscorthy, 

Feast  of  St.  Aedan  (Jan.  31),  1916. 


viii. 


INTRODUCTION 


It  is  a far  cry  back  to  the  year  598,  when  the  See  of  Ferns  was 
established,  with  St.  Aedan  (Mo-Aedh-og  or  Mogue)  as  first 
Bishop.  During  his  episcopate  thirty  churches  and  numerous 
monasteries  were  founded.  St.  Ibar,  St.  Abban,  St.  Brendan,  and 
St.  Senan  were  also  early  labourers  in  the  diocese.  St.  Aedan 
died  on  January  31st,  630,  leaving  a fragrant  memory  behind 
him,  and  his  episcopal  See  was  known  as  Fearna-mor-Moedhoc. 
In  the  National  Museum,  Dublin,  may  be  seen  the  famous  Breac 
Moedhoc,  or  speckled  shrine  of  St.  Aedan,  a case  made  to  contain 
relics  brought  from  Rome  by  St.  Molaise  to  his  friend  St.  Moedhoc, 
and  which  was  preserved  for  centuries  in  the  church  of  Drumlane, 
Co.  Cavan. 

St.  Aedan’s  seven  immediate  successors  were  : SS.  Mochua, 
Tuathal,  Coman,  Maeldoghar,  Diorath,  Moling,  and  Cillene.  Of 
these,  the  best  knowing  is  St.  Moling,  whose  name  is  perpetuated 
in  the  parish  of  St.  Mullins,  and  who  died  in  6g6,  on  June  17th. 
St.  Moling  dedicated  a holy  well  at  Ferns  to  his  beloved 
predecessor,  St.  Aedan,  not  far  from  the  Abbey. 

In  789  is  chronicled  the  death  of  Cronan  “ of  the  stone  church 
of  Ferns  ” — proving  the  existence  of  a cathedral  built  of  stone 
ere  the  close  of  the  8th  centur3^  Various  ravages  by  the 
Scandinavians  are  noted  in  the  years  834,  836,  838,  917,  919,  928, 
930,  and  937.  The  connection  between  Ferns  and  St.  Mullins 
lasted  till  the  close  of  the  12th  century.  Conor  O’Lynam  ruled 
over  both  monasteries  in  1043.  The  Norsemen  became  gradually 
Christianised,  and  finally  fused  with  the  native  population,  but 
the  place-names  of  Wexford,  Greenore,  Carnsore,  the  Raven,  the 
Scar,  the  Saltees,  Slade,  etc.,  as  well  as  personal  names  like 
Doyle,  perpetuate  the  Norse  settlement  in  the  diocese  of  Ferns. 
St.  Mullins  was  burned  in  1138,  and,  in  1200,  it  became  part  of 
Co.  Carlow,  and  a parish  of  the  diocese  of  Leighlin.  By  the 
decrees  of  the  Synod  of  Rath  Breasil  in  1118,  the  Diocese  of  Ferns 
was  mapped  out  as  “ from  Begerin  to  Mileadhach,  on  the  west 
of  the  Barrow ; and  from  Sliabh  Uidhe  Laighean  south  to 
the  sea.”  * 

On  the  death  of  Joseph  O’Hay,  Bishop  of  Ferns,  in  1184,  an 
able  successor  was  appointed  in  the  person  of  Ailbe  O’Molloy, 
Cistercian  Abbot  of  Baltinglass.  Most  readers  of  Irish  ecclesiastical 
history  are  familiar  with  the  scathing  rebuke  which  Bishop 
O’Molloy  administered  to  Gerald  Barry  (Giraldus  Cambrensis) 

* For  the  best  account  of  the  Synod  of  Rath  Breasail  see  an  article  by  Rev. 
John  MacErlean,  S.J.,  in  Archiv.  Hib.  Vol.  II.  (1914). 


4 


IX. 


at  the  Provincial  Council  of  Dublin,  in  1187,  in  reply  to  the 
latter's  aspersion  of  the  character  of  the  Irish  clergy.  Bishop 
O’Molloy  was  in  England  five  times  on  business  relating  to  his 
See.  He  also  went  to  Rome,  and  assisted  at  the  Fourth  General 
Council  of  Lateran,  in  1216.  His  determination  to  uphold  his 
rights  may  be  evidenced  in  his  excommunication  of  William 
Marshall,  Earl  of  Pembroke  and  Lord  of  Wexford,  who  died 
under  anathema  on  May  6th,  1219.  He  formed  the  Chapter  of 
Ferns,  and  died  on  New  Year’s  Day,  1223,  after  an  episcopate  of 
almost  thirty-seven  years. 

In  April,  1223,  King  Henry  III.  succeeded  in  getting  an 
English  courtier-cleric,  John  St.  John,  nominated  Bishop  of 
Ferns,  who  was  duly  consecrated.  In  1226  the  Bishop  got  fairs 
and  markets  established  in  Ferns,  Enniscorthy,  and  Templeshanbo, 
and,  in  1227,  he  exchanged  the  Manor  of  Enniscorthy  with  Philip 
Prendergast  for  six  ploughlands  in  Clone  and  Ballyregan.  He 
held  a Synod  in  Wexford,  in  Selskar  Priory,  in  1240,  and  was 
zealous  in  promoting  the  interests  of  religion.  His  death  took 
place  in  1243,  and  then  ensued  a ten  years’ vacancy,  during  which 
the  King  held  the  temporalities.  At  length,  in  1253,  Geoffrey  St. 
John,  Canon  of  Limerick,  was  elected  bishop,  but  he  ruled  only 
five  years. 

There  is  nothing  of  special  interest  to  chronicle  of  the  rule 
of  Hugh  de  Lamport  (1258  1282)  ; of  Richard  of  Northampton 
(1283-1303)  ; of  Simon  of  Evesham  (1304)  ; or  of  Robert  Walrand 
(1305-1311).  Adam  of  Northampton  (1312-1346)  appropriated  the 
church  of  Mayglass  to  the  Deanery  of  Ferns,  and  appropriated 
the  church  of  Rathcroe  to  Dunbrody  Abbey.  Hugh  de  Saltu 
was  consecrated  in  1347  but  was  deprived  ere  the  close  of  the 
same  year.  He  was  succeeded  by  Geoffrey  de  Grofeld,  O.S.A., 
who  attended  the  Provincial  Council  of  Dublin,  and  died  of  the 
plague  in  October,  1348. 

John  Esmonde,  Archdeacon  of  Ferns,  was  elected  by  the 
Chapter  as  Bishop  and  was  duly  consecrated  early  in  1349,  but 
was  deprived  by  the  Pope  at  the  close  of  same  year,  and  was 
replaced  by  William  Charnels,  O.P.*  Bishop  Esmonde  was 
subsequently  (1353)  provided  to  the  See  of  Emly,  over  which  he 
ruled  till  his  death  on  April  4th,  1362. 

Thomas  Denn,  Archdeacon  of  Ferns,  ruled  from  136310  1400. 
His  long  episcopacy  of  3^7  years  was  marked  by  much  political 
strife,  but  religion  flourished,  and  the  pilgrimage  to  Lady’s 
Island  was  largely  frequented.  Patrick  Barrett,  a Canon  of 
Kells  in  Ossory,  was  consecrated  at  Rome,  in  December,  1400, 
and,  in  1408,  he  transferred  the  episcopal  chair  from  Ferns  to  New 
Ross.  He  was  Chancellor  of  Ireland  from  1410  to  1413,  and  died 
on  November  loth,  1415.  He  built  the  Castle  of  Mountgarret 

* Owing  to  the  extraordinary  local  influence  of  Bishop  Esmonde,  the  Pope’s 
nominee  was  unable  to  obtain  possession  of  the  See  of  Ferns  for  two  years — even 
though  supported  by  the  King.  At  length  Esmonde  was  arrested  and  compelled 
to  give  bail. 


X. 


and  restored  St.  Mary’s  Church,  New  Ross,  also  rebuilding 
Bishop’s  Gate.  His  successor,  Robert  Whitty,  appointed  on 
February  17th,  1418,  reigned  almost  40  years,  and  resigned  his 
See  on  October  5th,  1457.  One  of  the  incidents  of  his  episcopacy 
was  his  absolving  the  citizens  of  Ross,  in  1435,  from  the  interdict 
placed  on  the  town  200  years  previously  for  the  murder  of  the 
Crutched  Friars.* 

John  Purcell,  Archdeacon  of  Lismore  and  Papal  Nuncio  for 
Ireland,  was  consecrated  at  Rome,  in  October,  1457,  and  ruled 
till  1479.  His  successor,  Laurence  Neville,  Archbishop  of  Ferns, 
attended  the  Provincial  Council  of  Dublin,  on  March  5th,  1495, 
where  an  annual  contribution  for  seven  years  was  levied  on  the 
Leinster  clergy,  to  provide  salaries  for  lectures  in  the  University 
of  Dublin.  His  seal,  dated  1494,  is  in  the  British  Museum.  He 
died  in  1503,  and  was  succeeded  by  Edmund  Comerford,  Dean  of 
Ossory,  who  was  consecrated  in  St.  Canice’s  Cathedral,  Kilkenny, 
in  1505.  He  ruled  less  than  four  years,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Nicholas  Comyn,  of  Limerick,  who  was  consecrated  in  St.  Paul’s 
Cathedral,  London,  on  January  20th,  1510.  Lynch,  in  his 
De  Praesulibus  Hib.,  says  that  Dr.  Comyn  was  appointed  Bishop 
of  Ferns  on  August  3rd,  1507,  but  this  may  have  been  on  a false 
rumour  of  the  death  of  Bishop  Comerford,  who  died,  according 
to  Ware,  on  Easter  Sunday,  1509. 

Bishop  Comyn  resided  at  Fethard  Castle,  and  assisted  at  the 
Provincial  Council  of  Dublin,  1512,  and  again  in  1518.  Not  long 
afterwards  he  was  translated  to  the  more  lucrative  See  of 
Waterford  and  Lismore,  on  April  13th,  1519,  and  on  the  same  day 
Dr.  John  Purcell,  Augustinian  Canon  of  St.  Catherine’s,  Waterford, 
was  provided  to  Ferns,  being  consecrated  at  Rome,  on  May  6th, 
of  same  year. 

Meantime,  Murrough  ballagh,  King  of  Leinster,  died  in  1511, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Art  biiidhe  Kavanagh,  who  ruled  South 
Leinster  during  a stormy  period  of  seven  years  and  died  at 
Enniscorthy  Castle  in  1518.  After  Art’s  death  the  Kingship 
devolved  on  Gerald  Kavanagh,  of  Ferns,  who  ruled  only  for  four 
years,  whereupon  Murtagh  Kavanagh,  a younger  son  of  Art 
buidhe  was  proclaimed  the  Mac  Murrough  in  January,  1523. 
This  Murtagh  or  Murty  resided  in  Enniscorthy  Castle,  and  used 
his  seal  as  “ King  of  Leinster.”  He  died  in  1531,  as  also  his  two 
sons,  Dermot  and  Donal,  and  immediate!}'  the  clan  proclaimed 
Cahir  mac  Gerald  as  the  Mac  Murrough,  who  took  possession  of 
Ferns  Castle. 

For  some  unrecorded  offence.  Bishop  Purcell,  who  resided  at 
Fethard  Castle,  was  taken  prisoner,  and  placed  in  the  custody  of 
the  Marshal  of  the  Exchequer  on  September  ist,  1531,  but  was 
released  early  in  1532.  Very  probably  this  was  owing  to  his 


* On  a false  report  of  the  death  of  Bishop  Whitty,  in  1453,  Thady  O’Byrne, 
O.S.B.,  Prior  of  Glascarrig,  had  himself  consecrated  Bishop  of  Ferns,  but  the 
appointment  was  annulled  by  Pope  Nicholas  V.  {Cah.  Pap.  Beg.  X.  245). 


XI. 


inability  to  pay  some  debts  due  to  the  Crown,  though  not 
unlikely  political  matters  were  at  the  bottom  of  it.  Five  years 
later,  Primate  Cromer,  of  Armagh,  who  was  suspected  of 
treasonable  practices,  escaped  arrest  only  by  reason  of  his  bodily 
infirmities.  Soon  the  rumblings  of  the  so-called  “ Reformation  ” 
were  heard,  and  on  March  19th,  1536,  George  Browne,  Provincial 
of  the  English  Augustinian  Friars,  was  schismatically  consecrated 
as  Archbishop  of  Dublin.  Ten  months  later  the  Colonial 
Parliament  in  Dublin  declared  Henry  VIII.  Supreme  Head  of 
the  Church.* 

Ferns  Abbey  was  suppressed  by  Royal  Commission  on  April 
7th,  1539,  and  the  aged  Bishop  of  Ferns,  Dr.  John  Purcell,  died 
two  months  later,  namely,  on  July  20th.  Here  it  may  be  well  to 
give  the  pre-Reformation  constitution  of  the  Chapter.  The 
cTapter  was  composed  of  a Dean,  Precentor,  Chancellor, 
Treasurer  and  Archdeacon,  with  ten  Prebendaries,  namely, 
Kilrane,  Coolstuff,  Edermine,  Fethard,  Taghmon,  Kilrush,  Tomb, 
Clone,  Whitechurch,  Crosspatrick  and  Kilcommon.  The  diocese 
was  divided  into  eight  deaneries,  namely,  the  Rural  Deaneries 
of  Duffrey,  Ballaghkeen,  Gorey,  Shillelagh,  Forth,  Bargy, 
Shilmalier  and  Shelbourne. 

Bishop  Purcell’s  successor  was  Alexander  Devereux,  Abbot 
of  Dunbrody,  who  was  schismatically  consecrated  Bishop  of 
Ferns,  on  December  14th,  1539.  Much  odium  has  attached  to  his 
memory,  yet  one  thing  is  certain,  that  Bishop  Devereux  was  not 
a Protestant  : he  was  in  schism  for  a time,  but  got  rehabilitated 
by  Cardinal  Pole  under  Queen  Mary.  He  no  doubt  leased  away 
a good  portion  of  church  property,  but  perhaps  this  was  done  in 
the  hope  of  brighter  days,  and  he  probably  thought  it  better  to 
have  some  of  the  See  lands  in  friendly  hands  than  to  have  them 
grabbed  by  the  Crown.  Between  the  years  1537  and  1542  the 
vast  monastic  propert)^  in  the  diocese  of  Ferns  was  parcelled  out 
to  royal  favourites,  and  the  vicarages  became  so  poor  that  no 
incumbent  could  live  on  the  income.  In  February,  1544,  John 
Travers  was  granted  by  King  Flenry  VIII.,  the  splendid 
Franciscan  Friary  of  Enniscorthy,  for  ever,  at  an  annual  rent 
of  2S.  2d. 

It  is  w’ell  known  that  Protestantism  made  no  headway 
whatever  in  the  diocese  of  Ferns  under  Edward  VI.  Church 
property  continued  to  be  sequestrated.  At  length  Queen  Mary 
ascended  the  throne  in  1553,  and  the  old  religion  was  restored. 
To  conciliate  the  powerful  Cahir  Mac  Art  Kavanagh,  Queen 
Mary  created  him  Baron  of  Ballyanne,  and  ordered  that  his 
brother,  Murtagh,  Avas  to  be  Baron  of  Coolnaleen.  Bishop 
Devereux,  who  resided  at  Kilhile  Castle,  was  rehabilitated. 
He  died  at  Fethard  in  July,  1566,  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel 
of  the  church  there.  With  him  ended  the  pre-Reformation 
Bishops  of  Ferns.  His  nephew,  John,  son  of  Sir  Nicholas 


* 28  Henry  VIII.  c.  5.  This  Act,  however,  is  not  in  the  Statute  Book. 

xii. 


Devereux,  of  Ballymagir,  was  appointed  by  Queen  Elizabeth  as 
first  Protestant  Bishop  on  October  14th  of  same  year,  retaining 
the  Deanery  of  Ferns  in  commendam,  and  residing  at  Adamstown 
Castle. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  parishes  of  the  diocese  of  Ferns 
at  this  epoch  : — Adamstown,  Ardamine.  Ardcandrisk,  Ardcavan, 
Ardcolm,  Artramont,  Ballyanne,  Ballybrazil,  Ballybrennan, 
Ballycanew,  Ballyconnick,  Ballyheogue,  Ballyhuskard,  Ballingley, 
Ballylannon,  Ballymore,  Ballynaslaney,  Ballyvalden,  Ballyvalloo, 
Bannow,  Carnagh,  Came,  Carnew,  Castle  Ellis,  Clone,  Clongeen, 
Clonleigh,  Clonmines,  Clonmore,  Coolstuff,  Crosspatrick, 
Donoughmore,  Drinagh,  Dunbrody,  Duncormack,  Dunowney, 
Edermine,  Ferns,  Fethard,  Hook,  Horetown,  Inch,  Ishartmon, 
Kilbride,  Kilbride-Glynn,  Kilcomb,  Kilcommon,  Kilcormack, 
Kilcowanmore,  Kilcavan,  Kildavin,  Kilgarvin,  Kilkevan,  Killag, 
Killan,  Killegney,  Killilloge,  Killilane,  Killesk,  Killian,  Killily, 
Killenagh,  Killisk,  Killinick,  Kinnagh,  Killninor,  Killincooly, 
Kilmakilloge,  Kilmollock,  Kilmannon,  Kilmuckridge,  Kilna- 
managh,  Kilnahue,  Kilmore,  Kilmachree,  Kilrane,  Kilpatrick, 
Kilpipe,  Kilscoran,  Kilrush,  Kiltrisk,  Kilturk,  Kilmokea, 
Kilscanlan,  Kiltennel,  Leskinfere,  Mayglass,  Milenagh,  Mulrankin, 
Monamolin,  Moyacomb,  Old  Ross,  Owenduff,  Preban,  Rath- 
macknee,  Rathaspick,  Rosdroit,  Rosminogue,  Rosslare,  St. 
Brigid’s,  St.  Ibar’s,  St.  Iberius,  St.  John’s,  Wexford  ; St.  John’s, 
Enniscorthy  ; St.  Margaret’s  ; St.  Mary’s,  Enniscorthy  ; St.  Mary’s, 
Wexford  ; St.  Mary’s,  New  Ross  ; St.  Mary’s  Island  ; St.  Michael’s, 
Fay  the  ; St.  Michael’s,  St.  Nicholas,  St.  Peter’s,  St.  Patrick’s,  St. 
Selskar,  Skreen,  St.  Tullock’s,  Tacumshane,  Templescobin, 
Templeshannon,  Templetown,  Templeshanbo,  Templeudigan, 
Taghmon,  Tomb,  Tomhaggard,  Tikillen,  Tintern,  Whitechurch, 
and  Whitechurch-Glynn.  In  addition  there  were  chapels  at 
Ambrosetown,  Carrig,  Tellerath,  Rathroe,  Chapel,  and  Kilkevin. 

It  was  not  until  the  year  1570  that  any  real  change  took 
place  in  the  matter  of  religion  throughout  the  diocese  of  Ferns. 
The  character  of  John  Devereux,  first  Protestant  Bishop,  may 
be  gauged  from  the  following  estimate  by  Adam  Loftus,  first 
Protestant  Primate  of  Armagh,  in  a letter  to  Cecil : — “An 
unfitter  man  cannot  be ; he  has  been  of  late  deprived  of  his 
deanery  for  confessed  immorality.”  His  daughter,  Margaret, 
was  married  to  Sir  Piers  Butler,  son  of  Lord  Mountgarret,  and 
she  resided  at  Clough,  now  Wilton  Castle.  Between  the  years 
1570  and  1576,  the  staimch  Catholics  of  County  Wexford  were 
sorely  harassed  in  regard  to  both  religion  and  property.  Goaded 
to  fury,  Feagh  MacHugh  O’Byrne  burned  Ferns  Cathedral  in  1576, 
but  in  1577  an  order  was  issued  by  the  Privy  Council  directing 
him  to  rebuild  the  Cathedral.  A year  later  Bishop  Devereux 
died,  and  no  Protestant  successor  was  appointed  for  four  years. 

After  a vacancy  of  over  fifteen  years,  Peter  Power,  a relation 
of  Lord  Power,  was  provided  by  the  Holy  See,  as  Bishop  of  Ferns, 
on  April  27th,  1582,  the  diocese  being  described  in  the  Papal  Brief 

xiii. 


as  “ vacant  by  the  death  of  Alexander  of  Happy  Memory,”  an 
entry  that  sufficiently  attests  the  orthodoxy  of  Bishop  Devereux. 
Two  years  later  Bishop  Power,  for  having  denied  the  supremacy 
of  Elizabeth,  was  cast  into  a loathsome  dungeon,  whence  he  was 
liberated  in  September,  1584,  through  the  connivance  of  the  jailer. 
He  escaped  to  the  Continent,  and  died  as  Assistant  Bishop  of 
Compostella,  on  December  15th,  1588.  Very  different  was  the 
end  of  Hugh  Allen,  Protestant  Bishop  of  Ferns,  who  alienated 
the  Manor  of  Fethard  and  other  church  lands.  His  death  occurred 
in  1599,  under  the  following  circumstances,  as  recorded  by  Philip 
O’Sullivan,  in  a work  published  in  1621  : — “ The  Bishop  assailed 
the  Church  dedicated  to  St.  John  the  Baptist,  in  the  village  of 
Castle  Ellis  (about  six  miles  from  Enniscorthy),  and  having 
despoiled  the  statues  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  and  St.  John,  which 
were  there  held  in  high  veneration  by  the  people,  of  all  their  rich 
offerings  and  ornaments,  he  caused  them  to  be  pulled  down  from 

the  Altar  by  his  English  satellites 

Being  seized  with  violent  pains,  and  raging  as  a madman, 
he  beat  his  huge  body  against  the  ground  till  death  completed 
his  sufferings.”  After  Allen’s  death  the  See  of  Ferns  was  united 
to  that  of  Leighlin,  and  Robert  Graves  was  appointed  first 
Protestant  Bishop  of  the  united  Sees  on  July  17th,  1600. 

At  the  accession  of  King  James,  in  1603,  the  Wexford  churches 
were  purified  by  Father  Coppinger,  S.J.,  and  St.  Patrick’s  was 
retained  by  the  Catholics  for  some  years.  At  length,  in  1606,  Dr. 
Daniel  O’Druhan  (chaplain  of  the  University  of  Salamanca 
from  1583  to  1591)  was  appointed  by  the  Holy  See  as  Vicar 
Apostolic  of  Ferns.  So  fierce  was  the  persecution  of  Catholics 
under  King  James,  that  Dr.  O’Druhan  had  to  assume  the  alias  of 
“ James  Walshe.”  The  Protestant  Bishop,  Ram,  presented  to  the 
Government  an  account  of  the  Diocese  of  Ferns,  on  September 
ist,  1612,  and  he  complained  bitterly  that  the  reformed  doctrines 
were  making  no  headway,  but  that,  on  the  contrary,  the  majority 
of  the  people  stuck  to  the  old  religion.  At  that  date,  fifteen 
priests  laboured  zealously  in  Co.  Wexford,  namely David 
O’Doyle,  Matthew  Roche,  Richard  FitzHarris,  William  O’Doyle, 
John  Quilty,  William  Barrick,  Turlough  O’Byrne,  J.  Dormer, 
Nicholas  O’Cullen,  William  Furlong,  O.  Cist.,  William  Wadding, 
William  Devereux,  William  Hanton,  John  Pierce,  and  John 
Sinnott,  O.F.M.,  with  Dr.  O’Druhan  as  Vicar  Apostolic.  Ram 
values  the  See  as  then  worth  100  marks  sterling,  that  is, 
;^66  13s.  4d.,  but  he  adds  that  “having  recovered  the  Manor  of 
Fethard,  it  is  now  better  per  annum  by  £'40.”  He  removed  the 
See  to  Gorey,  and  changed  the  name  of  the  place  to  Newborough, 
where  he  built  a palace  known  as  Ramsfort. 

On  the  death  of  Dr.  O’Druhan,  in  September,  1626,  the  clergy 
of  the  Diocese  petitioned  the  Holy  See  for  the  appointment  as 
Bishop  of  Ferns  of  Father  John  Murphy,  O.P.,  but  the  Pope  had 
previously  selected  Dr.  John  Roche,  who,  though  born  in  Spain, 
was  of  a good  old  Wexford  family.  Bishop  Roche  was  appointed 


XIV. 


on  April  29th,  1624,  and  his  diplomatic  services  were  so  highly 
thought  of,  especially  in  the  arrangement  of  the  Spanisli  match 
with  Prince  Charles  of  England,  that  he  was  detained  in  Rome 
for  four  years.  So  great  was  his  ability  that  Cardinal  Bentivoglio 
“selected  him  as  his  domestic  theologian,  and  he  held  him  in 
such  esteem  that  when  entering  Conclave  he  openly  declared  that 
if  he  was  elected  Pope  his  first  Cardinal  would  be  the  Irish 
theologian.  Dr.  John  Roche.”  (Moran’s  Spicilegium). 

Bishop  Roche  was  consecrated  in  1626,  but  did  not  arrive 
in  Ireland  till  July,  1629,  and  almost  immediately  proceeded  to 
Kilkenny,  where  he  took  part  in  the  Synod,  which  lasted  from 
August  24th  to  27th.  His  first  Relatio  to  Rome  is  dated 
December  ist,  1629,  and  contains  a detailed  account  of  his 
reconstruction  of  the  diocese  into  seventy  parishes,  but  there 
were  only  thirty  priests  to  minister  to  them.  He  adds — “The 
parochial  clergy  are,  indeed,  fewer,  than  in  perhaps  any  other 
diocese,  but  nowhere  are  they  better,  and  there  is  no  district 
in  the  diocese  where  they  fail  to  visit  in  order  to  attend  to 
the  spiritual  wants  of  the  faithful ; and  through  the  mercy  of 
God  there  is  not  a single  priest  in  the  diocese  whose  fame  is  in 
the  slightest  degree  tarnished.  In  addition  to  the  parochial 
clergy,  there  are  two  houses  of  Franciscans,  one  at  Wexford  and 
the  other  at  Ross.  These  religious  are  good  and  laborious, 
living  in  concord  with  the  secular  clergy,  and  respectful  and 
affectionate  towards  myself.  There  are  two  Jesuits  who  live  in 
Ross,  and  labour  assiduously  in  instructing  the  poor.  There  is 
also  one  Dominican  (Father  John  Murphy)  who  dedicates  himself 
to  the  same  sacred  mission.” 

On  February  25th,  1632,  the  zealous  Bishop  writes  from 
Wexford  as  follows  to  the  Propaganda,  describing  his  re-erection 
of  the  Cathedral  Chapter  ; — “ I have  named  for  the  five  dignities 
of  my  Church,  five  men  venerable  in  years  and  worth,  and  my 
first  helpers  in  the  ministry  which  I am  performing.  To  the 
Deanery,  I have  collated  Rev.  William  Devereux  my  Vicar 
General,  almost  60  years  of  age  ; to  the  Chancellorship,  Rev. 
John  Wadding,  50  years  of  age ; to  the  Archdeaconr3%  Rev. 
Daniel  O’Brien,  of  high  birth  and  purity  of  life ; to  the 
Precentorship,  Rev.  Richd.  Fitzharris,  60  years  of  age  ; and  to 
the  Treasurership,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Turner,  distinguished  alike 
for  his  learning,  probity  of  life,  and  birth.” 

Writing  from  Wexford  on  October  20th,  1635,  Bishop  Roche 
says  that  it  was  only  in  the  previous  month  of  September  he  had 
received  from  the  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  the  new  Decrees  relating 
to  the  Irish  Church.  The  Bishop  was  so  zealous  that  even  Justice 
Cressy,  in  his  Report  of  the  state  of  the  County  Wexford,  after 
the  Assizes,  in  August,  1633,  complains  that  “ the  most  ancient 

English  Planters  are  now  Romanish  and  Papish all 

recusants— not  one  Protestant  amongst  them.”  According  to 
a letter  from  Bishop  Rothe,  of  Ossory,  to  the  Cardinal  Protector 
of  Ireland,  Bishop  Roche  died  at  Kilkenny,  on  the  9th  of 


XV. 


April,  1636,  aged  63,  and  was  buried  in  St.  Marj^’s  Church, 
Kilkenn5^ 

On  November  5th,  1642,  Father  Richard  Sinnott,  OF.M., 
Guardian  of  the  Enniscorthy  Convent,  wrote  a long  letter  to  Father 
Luke  Wadding  strongly  urging  the  claims  of  a Franciscan  to  be 
appointed  to  the  vacant  See  of  Ferns:  “Our  Bishop  is  dead. 
The  times  do  serve  to  have  another.  I wrote  you  before  of  the 
late  aversion  or  coldness  of  our  clergy  towards  us  ; as  you  have 
helped  the  Order  by  Father  Fleming’s  election  [as  Archbishop  of 
Dublin]  further  us,  being  that  our  case  (all  things  considered)  be 
equal  if  not  greater,  which  to  paper  I do  not  commit.  I leave 
all  to  your  own  mature  judgment,  knowing  there  be  in  this 
province  of  Leinster  many  sufficient  and  able  men  of  ours. 
What  you  will  do  in  this,  resolutively,  I pray,  certify  me.  I 
believe  many  do  aim,  but  I beseech  your  Paternity  that  a 
Franciscan  by  your  means  hit  the  mark.’’* 

Dr.  William  Devereux,  Vicar  General  of  Ferns,  was 
appointed  Vicar  Capitular  on  the  death  of  Bishop  Roche,  and 
as  such,  administered  the  diocese  for  nine  years.  John  Roche,  a 
name-sake  of  the  deceased  Bishop,  was  appointed  to  the  See,  on 
February  6th,  1645,  but  the  bulls  were  annulled,  and  some  months 
later.  Dr.  Nicholas  French,  P.P.,  of  Wexford,  was  elected  and 
duly  consecrated  during  the  last  week  of  November  of  the  same 
year.  Dr.  Devereux  proved  an  able  administrator.  For  long  he 
was  deemed  the  compiler  of  an  excellent  Catechism,  which  was 
used  till  recently  throughout  the  diocese,  but  this  work  was  due 
to  a later  namesake  in  1760. 

Bishop  French  was  Chancellor  of  the  Synod  held  at 
Waterford,  on  August  12th,  1646,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
proceedings  of  the  Supreme  Council  of  the  Confederates. 
Between  the  years  1645  and  1649  Catholicit}'’  was  practically 
restored,  but  in  1650,  owing  to  the  fierce  Cromwellian  persecution, 
there  were  but  twenty  secular  priests  and  three  regulars  left  in 
the  whole  dipcese  of  Ferns.  Daniel  O’Brien,  Dean  of  Ferns, 
received  the  crown  of  martyrdom  on  April  14th,  1655.  Bishop 
French  himself  lay  concealed  for  months,  and  at  length,  on 
April  7th,  1651,  set  sail  for  the  Continent,  where,  for  twenty-seven 
years  he  ate  the  bitter  bread  of  exile.  He  was  assistant  to  the 
Archbishop  of  Santiago  from  1652  to  1666,  and  assistant  to  the 
Archbishop  of  Paris  from  1666  to  1668.  He  died  as  Assistant 
Bishop  of  Ghent  in  1678. 

Time  and  again  Bishop  French  sought  to  return  to  his  See, 
but  was  disappointed.  Fortunately,  an  able  administrator  took 
his  place  in  the  person  of  Dr.  Luke  Wadding,  Parish  Priest  of 
New  Ross,  and  Vicar-General  since  1650,  who  was,  at  the  urgent 
request  of  the  Irish  bishops,  appointed  Coadjutor,  with  right  of 
succession,  on  May  12th,  1671,  but  was  not  consecrated  till 
August,  1683.  In  1683,  Bishop  Wadding,  in  a letter,  stated  that 


* Report  on  Franciscan  Manuscripts  (1906). 


XVI. 


there  were  but  twenty-one  priests  in  the  diocese,  and  but  forty 
Catholics  in  Wexford  town.  The  good  bishop  was  given  an 
annuity  of  ^iso  by  King  James  II.,  on  March  22nd,  1686,  but  this 
ceased  on  the  arrival  of  King  William.  His  death  took  place  in 
December,  1691.  It  is  not  generally  known  that  Bishop  Wadding 
wrote  a volume  of  Spiritual  Songs,  mostly  set  to  old  Irish  airs, 
which  was  published  at  Ghent  in  1684,  and  went  through 
numerous  editions.  His  carols  are  sung  to  this  day  during  the 
Christmas  season  in  the  pretty  parish  church  of  Kilmore,  Co. 
Wexford. 

Notwithstanding  the  Williamite  regime,  the  See  of  Ferns  was 
not  long  left  widowed,  and  on  November  3rd,  1692,  Rev.  Michael 
Rossiter,  Dean  of  Ferns,  Parish  Priest  of  Killinick,  and  Vicar- 
General,  was  nominated  by  the  exiled  King,  James  II.,  as  bishop. 
He  was  preconised  by  the  Holy  See  on  March  22nd,  1695,  but  it 
was  judged  inexpedient  to  increase  the  number  of  Irish  bishops. 
However,  on  July  ist,  1697,  he  was  formally  provided,  and  was 
consecrated  in  the  following  year. 

The  fierce  persecution  during  the  first  portion  of  the  eighteenth 
century  resulted  in  the  iniquitious  Bill  for  the  registration  of 
priests,  and  the  list  of  the  County  Wexford  priests  who  registered 
themselves  on  July  nth,  1704,  appears  in  Appendix  II.  Bishop 
Rossiter  registered  himself  as  Parish  Priest  of  Killinick,  Kil- 
macree,  and  Rathmacknee.  He  gave  his  age  as  56,  and  the  date 
of  his  ordination  as  December  27th,  1672,  at  Lisbon.  In  all 
there  were  thirty-five  priests  registered  for  the  diocese  of  Ferns. 
Many  of  these  thirty-five  clergy  were  only  curates,  but  to  defeat 
the  law  they  registered  for  the  civil  parishes,  e.g..  Father  Nicholas 
Roche  registered  as  P.P.  of  Castle  Ellis,  Killily,  Ballyvalden, 
Killisk,  St.  Nicholas,  Screen,  Ardcolm,  and  Ardcavan. 

As  an  instance  of  the  severity  of  the  Penal  Laws  in  1707, 
it  may  be  mentioned  that  a number  of  influential  Catholic 
gentlemen,  including  Sir  Laurence  Esmonde,  Councillor  O’Toole, 
Colonel  Butler,  and  Dr.  Fitzpatrick  were  imprisoned  in  Dublin 
Castle  in  the  spring  of  1708,  solely  for  professing  the  “ Popish 
religion.”  They  were  released  only  on  bail  of  ;^2,ooo  each,  on 
April  5th  of  same  year.  The  saintly  Bishop  of  Ferns  died,  after 
much  suffering,  in  the  spring  of  1709,  and  was  succeeded  by  Dr. 
John  Verdon,  who  was  nominated  by  James  III.,  on  June  i6th, 
1709,  and  whose  brief  of  appointment  was  dated  September  14th 
of  same  year.  Bishop  Verdon,  who  had  been  P.P.  of  St.  Peter’s, 
Drogheda,  and  Vicar-General  of  Armagh,  was  consecrated  in 
March,  1711,  and,  soon  after,  came  to  his  diocese.  The  details 
of  his  episcopate  are  scant,  as  the  Penal  Laws  were  fiercest  at 
that  particular  epoch.  For  all  that,  he  laboured  most  zealously, 
and  erected  nine  chapels.  In  1724  the  Franciscan  Friars  built  a 
new  Friary  at  New  Ross,  and  in  1728  they  erected  a handsome 
chapel  under  the  guardianship  of  F ather  Bonaventure  McCormack. 
Bishop  Verdon  died  in  February,  1728,  and  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Ambrose  O’Callaghan,  O.F.M.,  on  September  26th,  1729. 

xvii. 


Arthur  Price,  Protestant  Bishop  of  Ferns  and  Leighlin, 
furnished  a report  in  regard  to  “ Popery  ” in  his  diocese  in  1731. 
From  the  report  it  appears  that  the  Protestant  Parishes  were 
reckoned  as  131,  ‘'of  which  71  were  in  the  hands  of  lay 
impropriators,  28  were  appropriated  to  various  prebendaries, 
leaving  only  32  in  the  possession  of  the  working  clergy  ; and  of 
those  which  were  held  by  clergymen,”  as  Lecky  writes,  “ many 
were  so  poor  that  sixteen  united  only  make  a revenue  of  £60  a 
year.”  In  regard  to  the  state  of  the  Catholic  religion  in  Ferns, 
Bishop  Price  states  that  there  were  “ twenty-one  old  Mass 
houses,  and  ten  built  since  the  accession  of  George  I.  (1714), 
besides  three  private  chapels,  forty-four  officiating  priests,  and 
two  friaries,  having  nine  friars.  There  were  also  fourteen  parish 
schoolmasters.  There  were  eleven  movable  Altars,  thus  making 
forty-five  places  where  the  Holy  Sacrifice  was  offered  up.  The 
two  Friaries — both  Franciscan — were  at  Wexford  and  Ross,” 
and  there  was  “ one  fryer  in  Clonmines.”  By  way  of  contrast  it 
should  be  noted,  that  there  were  only  twenty-seven  Protestant 
ministers — some  of  whom  were  non-resident — for  the  131  parishes 
in  the  diocese. 

So  great  was  the  persecution  that  Bishop  O’Callaghan,  who 
lived  in  his  Convent  at  Wexford,  had  to  assume  the  name  of 
“ Dr.  Walker,”  and  in  many  letters  he  subscribed  his  name  as 
“ A.  Walker.”  On  August  20th,  1732.  he  appointed  Dr.  Nicholas 
Sweetman,  Rector  of  St.  Fintan’s,  Mayglass,  as  Treasurer  of  Ferns, 
and  on  July  21st,  1736,  he  constituted  him  Vicar-General,  with 
delegated  powers  to  make  a Visitation.  The  following  may  be 
regarded  as  a list  of  the  parish  priests  and  the  Chapter  of  the 
diocese  in  the  year  1739  : — 

Dean,  Henry  Roche  ; Archdeacon,  Gregor}^  Downes  ; 
Chancellor,  William  Devereux  ; Treasurer,  Nicholas  Sweetman  ; 
and  Precentor,  Thomas  Broders.  The  nine  Prebendaries  were 
Stephen  Lambert,  Michael  Downes,  John  Stafford,  Nicholas 
Synnot,  James  Nolan,  Clement  Roche,  Joseph  Purcell,  Richard 
Devereux,  and  Martin  Cullen.  The  Parish  Priests  were— James 
French,  Owen  Caulfield,  Mark  Redmond,  Martin  Redmond, 
Edward  Redmond,  Michael  O’Brien,  Daniel  Doyle,  Edward 
Dempsey,  John  Grannell,  Thady  Grannell,  Tobias  Butler,  John 
Doyle,  Patrick  Walshe,  Edward  Saunders,  Nicholas  Roche, 
Matthew  Casey,  and  Edward  Murphy. 

Bishop  O’Callaghan,  notwithstanding  the  dangers  of  the 
times,  paid  his  ad  lirnina  visit  most  punctually,  and  he  died  in 
August,  1744,  having  as  successor  Dr.  NicholasSweetman,  who  was 
nominated  by  King  James  III.  on  September  20th,  1744.  His 
nomination  was  ratified  by  the  Holy  See  on  January  25th,  1745, 
and  faculties  given  him  on  May  gth. 

Bishop  Sweetman  (a  brilliant  student  of  the  Irish  College, 
Salamanca),  was  not  many  months  consecrated  when  he  was 
arrested  and  brought  a prisoner  to  Dublin  Castle  on  the  absurd 
charge  of  favouring  the  Pretender  and  a French  invasion,  but 

xviii. 


Lord  Chesterfield  (the  Viceroy)  was  so  taken  by  his  splendid 
presence  and  polished  manners,  that  not  only  did  he  at  once 
order  his  release,  but  he  became  quite  friendly  with  the  Bishop. 

So  highly  was  Bishop  Sweetman  esteemed  that  the  Chapter 
of  Armagh  voted  him  dignus  for  the  Primacy,  after  the  death  of 
Archbishop  MacMahon,  in  1747.  But  his  very  commanding 
influence  lent  a handle  to  the  vile  brood  of  priest-hunters,  and  so 
he  was  again  arrested  in  December,  1751,  and  detained  a w’eek  in 
prison.  A summary  of  the  examination  will  be  found  in  Appendix 

A few  months  later  (March  12th,  1752),  he  assisted  at  the 
consecration  of  Bishop  O’Keeffe  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin,  at 
Wexford.  There  is  yet  preserved  Bishop  Sweetman's  Visitation 
of  the  Diocese  of  Ferns,  in  1753 — which  is  reproduced  exactlj’ 
as  written.  (See  Appendix  VI).  On  Whit-Sunday,  1771,  Bishop 
Sweetman  consecrated  Dr  Egan  as  Bishop  of  Waterford,  at 
Taghmon.  Feeling  the  effects  of  old  age,  he  petitioned  the  Floly 
See  to  appoint  his  nephew.  Rev.  Dr.  Stafford,  Parish  Priest  of 
Rathangan,  as  Coadjutor  Bishop,  which  was  accordingly  done. 
Bishop  Stafford  was  appointed  in  1773,  but  only  survived  eight 
years,  as  he  was  killed  by  a fall  from  his  horse  on  September  30th. 
1781.  Two  months  later  he  again  applied  for  a coadjutor,  and 
the  Rev.  James  Caulfield,  D.D.,  Parish  Priest  of  New  Ross,  was 
consecrated  as  such  on  July  7th,  1782,  by  Archbishop  Carpenter, 
assisted  b}"  Bishop  Troy  and  by  Dr.  Downes,  Dean  of  Ferns. 
Bishop  Sweetman  died  m Wexford  on  October  19th,  1786,  aged 
86,  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Clongeen.  His  episcopate 
extended  over  the  long  period  of  forty-one  and  a half  years,  one 
of  the  longest  on  record  in  the  See  of  Ferns. 

Bishop  Caulfield,  who  was  allowed  to  keep  his  parish  of  New 
Ross  in  commendam,  sent  an  interesting  Relatio  to  Rome  in  1796, 
in  which  the  state  of  the  diocese  is  given  : — “ Ferns  diocese  is 
thirty-eight  miles  long  and  twenty  broad  with  eight  borough 
towns.  'I'here  are  nineteen  members  in  the  Chapter,  and  thirty- 
six  parish  priests,  some  of  whom  have  no  curates.  The  number 
of  religious  houses  are  but  four,  viz.,  a Franciscan  Convent  at 
Wexford,  having  six  Friars  ; two  Augustinian  Friaries,  one  at 
New  Ross  and  the  other  at  Clonmines  ; and  a Carmelite  Friary 
at  Horetown.”  No  synod  could  be  held  owing  to  the  bigotry  of 
the  times.  His  income  was  barely  sufficient  to  support  himself 
and  one  man  servant  and  the  livery  of  two  horses.  “ Of  a total 
population  of  120,000  there  are  115,000  Catholics,  and  to  minister 
to  these  there  are  only  eighty  priests  including  regulars. 
Conferences  are  held  at  Ferns  from  April  to  November.” 

Bishop  Caulfield,  in  a letter  dated  May  21st,  1799,  says  that 
so  persecuted  had  he  been  that  life  or  death  was  almost  indifferent 
to  him,  and  j^et  he  “ had  saved  more  lives  and  prevented  more 
mischief  than  all  the  yeomanry  and  army  ” during  that  unhappy 
epoch  In  all  there  were  thirty- three  Catholic  chapels  burned  by 
the  soldiery,  and  no  punishment  whatever  was  inflicted  on  the 
authors.  The  following  churches  were  burned  in  1798  and  1799  ; 


XIX. 


Boolavogue,  Ma3'glass,  Ramsgrange,  Drumgoole,  Ball^’murrin, 
Go^e3^  Annacurra,  Craan,  Rock,  Ballyduff,  Riverchapel,  Monaseed, 
Clologue,  Killaveney,  Ferns,  Oulart,  Castletown,  Ball3"garret, 
Ballynamona,  Askamore,  Murrintown,  Monamolin,  Kilrush, 
Marshallstown,  Munfin,  Crossabeg,  Killanieran,  Monageer  and 
Kiltealy.  In  1800  the  chapels  of  Glanbrien,  Kaim,  and 
Ballymackessy  suffered  destruction,  and  Courtnacuddy  was 
burned  on  August  13th,  1801.  Out  of  the  ten  priests  concerned 
in  the  Insurrection  seven  of  them  perished  or  suffered  banishment. 
Father  Philip  Roche  was  hanged  at  Wexford  ; Father  John 
Murphy  was  burned  at  Tullow  ; Father  Michael  Murphy  fell  at 
the  battle  of  Arklow  but  his  remains  were  brought  to  Castle 
Ellis  ; Father  Mogue  Kearns  was  hanged  at  Edenderry  ; Father 
Clinch  was  shot  by  Lord  Roden  and  was  buried  at  Kilmallock  ; 
and  Father  John  Redmond  was  hanged  by  Lord  Mountnorris. 
Father  James  Dixon,  one  of  the  “ convict  priests.”  had  the 
happiness  of  celebrating  the  first  Mass  in  New  South  Wales,  on 
May  15th,  1803,  and  was  appointed  Prefect  Apostolic  of  Australia. 
He  subsequently  returned  to  Ireland,  and  died  as  P.P.  of 
Crossabeg,  in  1840. 

In  1801,  when  the  subject  of  the  Veto  and  the  endowing  of 
the  Irish  Catholic  clergy  were  occupying  Castlereagh’s  attention 
Bishop  Caulfield  forwarded  the  following  particulars  relative  to 
the  See  of  Ferns.  “ Average  income  of  Bishop,  including  New 
Ross,  ;^i’300.  There  are  thirt3^-six  parishes  in  the  diocese,  with 
thirty-six  parish  priests  and  twent3"-five  curates— all  seculars. 
The  diocese  is  fifty-four  miles  long  by  twenty-four,  having  an 
area  of  eighty- two  square  miles.  There  are  fifteen  of  the  regular 
clergy,  namel3^  eight  Franciscans  in  Wexford,  four  Augustinians 
in  Ross,  two  Augustinians  in  Clonmines  (Grantstown),  and  one 
Carmelite  Friar  in  Horetown.  In  the  baronies  of  Forth  and 
Bargy,  the  Easter  dues  are  generally  received  in  corn,  at  the  rate 
of  one  bushel  per  score-acres.  The  highest  revenues  were  those 
of  Gorey,  Wexford,  Ferns,  and  Ramsgrange,  which  parishes  were 
worth  respectively  £'161,  £1^0,  £'119,  and  £iis  per  annum.  The 
parish  of  Enniscorthy,  with  one  curate,  was  only  worth  £30,  and 
the  total  revenue  of  the  See  is  estimated  at  £’2,192  los.” 

In  the  summer  of  1803  Bishop  Caulfield’s  health  began  to 
fail,  and  he  applied  for  a coadjutor.  Accordingly,  on  October 
2nd.  1804,  Rev.  Dr.  Ryan,  P.P.  of  Coolock,  secretary  to  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  Maynooth  College,  was  appointed  by  the  Holy  See, 
and  was  duly  consecrated  early  in  1805.  From  that  date  the 
government  of  the  diocese  was  practically  in  the  hands  of 
Dr.  Ryan,  who  was  given  a promise  of  protection  by  the 
Government.  However,  Bishop  Caulfield  lingered  till  January 
I2th,  1814,  on  which  day  he  died,  aged  83,  and  was  buried  in  the 
Franciscan  Friar3>’  Chapel,  Wexford.* 

* In  Renehan’s  Bishops  of  Ferns  (1873)  the  date  is  given  as  “ January  14,”  but 
the  actual  date  was  Wednesda}'  evening,  January  12th,  as  is  chronicled  in  the 
contemporary  papers. 


XX. 


No  sooner  did  Bishop  Ryan  get  the  sedes  episcopalis  transferred 
to  Enniscorthy  than  he  projected  a cathedral  to  replace  the  anti- 
quated thatched  chapel  at  the  end  of  Irish  Street.  Accordingly,  he 
secured  a splendid  site,  and  commenced  the  erection  of  the  old 
cathedral,but  not  without  considerableopposition  from  the  Orange 
faction.  Under  date  of  June  i8th,  1812,  John  Bernard  Trotter 
(ex-secretary  to  Charles  James  Fox),  writes  regarding  the  old 
cathedral : — “ There  is  an  exceedingly  large  and  handsome  chapel 
building  here  and  a great  Catholic  population  to  attend  it.”  Bishop 
Ryan  introduced  the  Carmelite  Nuns  to  New  Ross  m 1817,  and  the 
Presentation  Nuns  to  Wexford  on  October  2nd,  1818.  He  died  five 
months  later,  on  March  gth,  i8ig,  being  interred  in  the  Cathedral, 
where  there  is  a mural  slab  of  white  marble  to  his  memory. 

On  January  12th,  i8ig,  Rev.  Dr.  James  Keating,  Adm.,  of 
Camolin,  was  appointed  Coadjutor  Bishop,  and  he  was 
consecrated  on  March  21st,  succeeding  immediately  to  plenary 
jurisdiction.  During  the  year  i8ig  St.  Peter’s  College,  Wexford, 
was  founded  ; and  in  1826,  the  Presentation  Nuns  were 
introduced  in  Enniscorthy. 

In  March.  1821,  when  the  subject  of  Catholic  Relief  was 
before  the  British  Parliament,  the  following  Resolutions  were 
signed  b}^  the  clergy  of  Ferns: — 


Resolved — That  while  we  yield  to  no  class  of  his  Majesty's  subjects  in 
allegiance  and  attachment  to  liis  Majesty's  person  and  government,  we  feel 
ourselves  bound  in  dut\'  to  express  our  solemn  disapprobation  of  the  restrictive 
clauses  of  a bill  purporting  to  relieve  his  Majesty's  R.C.  subjects  from  the 
disabilities  by  which  they  are  affected. 

Resolved — That  the  power  to  be  given  by  said  bill  to  a Secretary  of  State 
of  rejecting  a person  appointed  to  the  office  of  Bishop  or  Dean  in  our  Church, 
is  equivalent  to  that  of  a positive  nomination,  which  if  carried  into  effect  we 
believ-e  must  eventually  injure  and  may  materially  subvert  the  Catholic  religion 
in  Ireland. 

Resolved— That  feeling  ourselves  bound  in  conscience,  and  being  read}'  to 
give  the  most  solemn  pledge  not  to  carry  on  any  communication  injurious  to 
the  State,  we  consider  a clause  subjecting  our  correspondence  with  the  See  of 
Rome  to  any  board  of  commissioners  even  tho'  they  were  Catholic  ecclesiasticks, 
as  imposing  on  us  a great,  unnecessary,  and  oppressive  severity. 

Resolved — That  the  oath  prescribed  as  a substitute  for  the  oath  of 
supremacy  appears  to  us  objectionable,  and  furnishes  great  grounds  for 
conscientious  scruples. 

Resolved — That  our  venerable  Bishop,  the  Right  Rev.  Doctor  Keating,  be 
respectfully  requested  to  have  these  resolutions  inserted  in  the  books  of  this 
diocese,  as  a standing  monument  of  our  sentiments  on  this  momentous  question. 


James  Keating,  R.C.B.  J.  N.  Fanning 


Patrick  Synnott 
Nicholas  Redmond 
Edmund  Redmond 
John  Sutton 
Nicholas  Synnott 
James  Murphy 
Nicholas  Herron 
William  O'Neill 
Miles  Murphy 
Peter  Synnott 
George  Whitty 
Patrick  Murphy 
Nicholas  Codd 
John  Sinnott 
Francis  Prendergast 
James  Walsh 


James  Harpur 
Edmond  Doyle 
Thomas  Stafford 
Mark  Devereux 
John  Carroll 
Walter  Rowe 
Owen  Dempsey 
George  Murphy 
Nicholas  Furlong 
Michael  Mitten 
William  Chapman,  Dean 
James  Doyle 
Peter  Doyle 
Edw.  O'Flaherty 
D.  Dempsey 
Thomas  Furlong 


James  Murphy 
John  Scallan 
Nicholas  Synnott 
William  Connick 
William  Brennan 
Martin  Moran 
Peter  Doyle 
John  Corrin,  V.G. 
Edmond  Murphy,  P.P. 

of  Bannow 

Charles  O'Brien,  P.P., 

Killavenej’ 

James  Dixon,  P.P. 

John  Barry,  P.P. 

John  Synnott 
James  Hore,  C.C. 
Patrick  Walsh 
Thomas  Doyle,  V.G. 


XXI. 


In  1833  (after  the  shocking  affairs  at  Newtownbarry  and 
Carrickshock,  over  the  tithe  war),  the  Enniscorthy  Collector  of 
Church  Rates  called  on  Bishop  Keating  at  his  residence  and 
demanded  the  usual  tithes.  Bishop  Keating  refused  to  pay,  and 
told  the  Collector  to  seize  and  sell  his  premises.  Thereupon, 
Bishop  Elrington  (the  Protestant  Bishop  of  Ferns)  wrote  to  Dr. 
Keating  as  follows ; — 

Right  Rev.  Sir, 

According  to  the  interpretation  of  the  Seventh  Commandment,  given  in 
Butler’s  Catechism,  the  unjiiat  keeping,  as  well  as  the  unjust  taking,  of  what 
belongs  to  another  is  forbidden,  and,  therefore,  you  violated  this  commandment : 
“Thou  shalt  not  steal.” 

You  have  also  violated  the  commandment,  “Thou  shalt  not  Kill,”  by 
referring  the  Collector  of  Church  Rates  to  the  premises  for  seizure  and  sale, 
knowing  very  well  that  if  he  attempted  such  seizure  and  sale  his  life  would  be 
forfeited. 

I am.  Right  Rev.  Sir, 

Yours,  etc., 

THOMAS  FERNS. 

Bishop  Keating  replied  to  this  letter  in  the  following 
trenchant  style  : — 

My  Lord, 

I,  this  day,  received  a letter  signed  Thomas  Ferns.  I presume  this  letter 
must  have  been  the  production  of  your  Lordship’s  pen.  Your  Lordship’s 
interpretation  of  the  fifth  and  seventh  commandments  is  so  unfair  and  so 
uncandid,  and  your  manner  of  addressing  me  so  uncivil  and  so  uncourteous, 
that  I deem  it  quite  a sufficient  reply  to  say  that  I received  your  Lordship’s 
letter. 

I am,  my  Lord,  etc., 

►F JAMES  KEATING. 

Bishop  Elrington  wrote  a second  letter  as  follows : — 

“ In  case  you  publish  my  letter  whole  and  entire,  and  not  by  parts  or 
extracts,  I have  no  objection  to  its  publication.” 

To  this  Bishop  Keating  replied  : — 

My  Lord, 

So  little  importance  did  1 attach  to  your  Lordship’s  letter  that  I never  once 
thought  of  publishing  it  whole  and  entire  or  by  parts  and  extracts.  But  in 
case  your  Lordship  may  have  any  fancy  to  publish  my  letter,  you  have  my 
permission  to  publish  it  w'hole  and  entire,  or  by  parts  and  extracts,  whichever 
you  please. 

^ JAMES  KEATING. 

Bishop  Keating  was  an  indefatigable  worker,  and  he 
reconstructed  the  parochial  divisions  of  his  diocese  on  May  gth, 
1835.  The  following  is  a list  of  the  thirty-six  parishes  in  1837  ; — 
Enniscorthy,  Camolin  (both  Bishop’s  parishes),  New  Ross, 
Tintern,  Rathangan,  Monageer,  Bannow,  Cushinstown,  Black- 
water,  Ballindaggin,  Crossabeg,  Bree,  Ma3^glass,  Kilrush,  Litter, 
Killegny,  Ballygarret,  Piercestown,  Glj’nn,  Wexford,  Tomacork, 
Hook,  Oulart,  Tinahely,  Ferns,  Oylegate,  Davidstown,  Suttons, 
Adamstown,  Tagoat,  Gorey,  Taghmon,  Lady’s  Island,  Newtown- 
barry, Kilmore,  and  Castlebridge.  There  were  ninety-two 
churches,  twenty  of  which  were  erected  during  Bishop  Keating’s 
rule. 

xxii. 


Bishop  Keating's  successor  was  Rev.  Dr.  Myles  Murphy,  P.P., 
of  Wexford,  who  was  consecrated  in  the  Cathedral  on  March  roth, 
1850.  Bishop  Murph^-'s  episcopate  lasted  over  six  years,  and  he 
died  on  August  13th,  1856,  being  succeeded  by  Rev.  Dr.  Furlong, 
who  was  consecrated  on  March  22nd,  1857. 

Bishop  F urlong  went  to  live  in  Wexford  at  St.  Peter's  College, 
and  his  regime  is  memorable  for  three  outstanding  events  : The 
founding  of  the  House  of  Missions  (Missioners  of  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament),  at  Enniscorthy  ; the  completion  of  Enniscorthy 
Cathedral  ; and  the  initiation  of  a great  temperance  crusade, 
including  a diocesan  law  for  the  closing  of  public-houses  on 
Holy  days  throughout  the  diocese  of  Ferns.  .Another  remarkable 
event  of  his  episcopate  was  the  opening  of  the  beautiful  twin 
churches  in  Wexford.  He  also  introduced  the  Mercy  Nuns  and 
the  Loretto  Nuns  into  Enniscorthy. 

Bishop  Furlong  died  at  St.  Peter’s  College,  Wexford,  on 
November  12th,  1875,  aged  73  years,  and  was  buried  in  Ennis- 
corthy Cathedral,  his  obsequies  being  presided  over  by  his 
Eminence  Cardinal  Cullen.  At  his  Month’s  Memory  the  funeral 
oration  was  preached  by  Bishop  Conroy  of  Ardagh,  a famous 
pulpit  orator.  The  forty  parishes  of  the  diocese  in  1875  were  : — 
Adamstown,  Annacurra  and  Killaveney,  Ballindaggin,  Bally- 
garret,  Ballyoughter,  Bannow,  Blackwater,  Bree,  Castlebridge, 
Clongeen,  Cloughbawn,  Craanford.  Crossabeg,  Cushinstown, 
Davidstown,  Ferns,  Glynn.  Gorey,  Kilanerin,  Kilmore,  Kilrush, 
Lady’s  Island,  Litter,  Mayglass,  Monageer,  New  Ross.  Newtown- 
barry,  Oylegate,  Oulart,  Piercestown,  Ramsgrange,  Rathangan, 
Rathnure,  Suttons,  Taghmon,  Tagoat,  Templetown,  Tintern, 
Tomacork,  and  Wexford,  as  also  Enniscorthy  and  Rathangan, 
which  were  mensal  parishes.  The  number  of  Catholics  at  this 
date  in  the  County  Wexford  was  about  1 18,000,  whilst  the  number 
for  the  diocese  was  about  125,000. 

On  May  7th,  1876,  the  Rev.  Michael  Warren,  Superior  of  the 
House  of  Missions,  was  consecrated  in  the  Cathedral  as  Bishop 
of  Ferns,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Blackstoops,  in  the  house 
then  vacated  by  the  Sisters  of  Mercy.  Bishop  Warren  was  an 
uncompromising  advocate  of  temperance,  and  he  founded  a 
Catholic  total  abstinence  society  at  Enniscorthy,  on  the  ist  of 
November,  1876.  At  the  St.  Patrick’s  Day  temperance  procession 
at  Wexford,  in  the  year  1879,  four  bishops  were  present,  namely. 
Dr.  Warren,  Dr.  MacEvill3^  Dr.  MacCormack,  and  Dr.  Duggan. 

In  1881  the  Catholic  population  of  the  diocese  of  Ferns  was 
returned  at  117,655.  Four  years  later  the  amiable  and  zealous 
Bishop  Warren  took  seriously  ill,  and  he  died  on  April  22nd,  1884, 
being  interred  in  his  Cathedral,  where  there  is  a splendid 
memorial  window  erected  at  a cost  of  300  guineas. 

The  successor  of  Bishop  Warren  was  appointed  in  the  person 
of  Rev.  James  Browne,  Parish  Priest  of  Piercestown,  who  was 
duly  consecrated  in  Enniscorthy  Cathedral,  on  September  14th 
(the  Feast  of  the  Exaltation  of  the  Holy  Cross),  1884.  Bishop 

xxiii. 


Browne  took  up  his  residence  in  Wexford,  the  parish  of  which  was 
made  mensal  after  the  death  of  Father  James  Roche,  while 
Rathangan  became  parochial,  bringing  the  number  of  parishes 
to  forty-one. 

To  write  anything  of  the  labours  of  Bishop  Browne  would 
be  outstepping  the  limits  assigned  to  this  -work,  and  we  can 
only  repeat  in  reference  to  him  what  has  often  been  quoted, 
namely — “ Si  monumenta  quaeris,  circumspice."  His  wise  rule  has 
been  characterised  by  an  expansion  of  the  diocese  and  a general 
improvement  in  the  material  fabrics  of  the  churches.  He  also 
sanctioned  the  introduction  of  the  Benedictine  Monks  to  the 
diocese,  and  they  have  a Priory  at  Edermine,  and  a flourishing 
school  at  Mount  St.  Benedict,  near  Gorey. 

Born  at  Mayglass,  on  aSth  August,  1842,  the  future  Bishop  of 
Ferns  entered  Maynooth  College,  in  i860,  and  was  ordained  on 
Xmas  Eve,  1865,  being  .successively  Professor  at  St.  Peter's 
College  from  August,  1865  to  1867 ; C.C.  of  Barntown  ’by-’hg, ; 
C.C.  of  Wexford  from  November,  1869,  to  September,  18S0. 
He  was  one  of  the  famous  rhetoric  class,  whose  renown  is 
for  ever  emblazoned  on  the  Maynooth  College  rolls,  as 
having  given  no  fewer  than  five  distinguished  prelates  to  the 
Irish  Church.  The  names  of  the  five  prelates  who  went  through 
their  whole  course,  from  rhetoric  in  i860,  as  class  fellows,  are  as 
follows,  in  the  order  of  their  consecration  : — Most  Rev.  Dr.  Healy, 
Archbishop  of  Tuam  ; Most  Rev.  Dr.  James  Browne,  Bishop  of 
Ferns  ; Most  Rev.  Dr.  0’Dw}^er,  Bishop  of  Limerick  ; Most  Rev. 
Dr.  Robert  Browne,  Bishop  of  Cloyne  ; and  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Hoare, 
Bishop  of  Ardagh  and  Clonmacnoise.  Since  that  memorable 
consecration  day — ov^er  thirty-one  years  ago — Bishop  Browne  has 
laboured  faithfully  as  chief  pastor  of  Ferns.  May  he  be  spared 
for  many  years  to  rule  the  See  of  St.  Aedan. 

The  diocese  of  Ferns  is  practically  coterminous  with  the 
ancient  territory  of  Hy  Kinsellagh,  and  hence  embraces  a small 
part  of  Co.  Wicklow  and  a fragment  of  Co.  Carlow.  In  a sense 
it  embraces  the  whole  of  County  Wexford,  but  the  parishes  of 
Inch  and  Kilgorman,  and  one  townland  (Glenogue)  of  Kilanerin 
parish,  are  in  the  archdiocese  of  Dublin,  in  right  of  the  ancient 
See  of  Glendalough.  Formerly,  Ferns  included  St.  Mullins,  Co. 
Carlow,  but  with  the  advent  of  the  Marshall  family,  it  was  ceded 
to  Leighlin.  Moyacomb  belonged  to  Ferns  till  1615,  but  it  is 
now  in  Kildare  and  Leighlin,  as  is  also  a small  portion  of 
Templeudigan.  The  bridge  of  New  Ross  marks  the  boundary 
between  Ossory  and  Ferns  and  hence  Rosbercon  is  in  Ossory. 
Annacurra  (and  Kilaveney)  and  Tomacork  parishes,  though  in 
Co.  Wicklow,  are  in  the  diocese  of  Ferns  ; and  the  parish  of 
Annacurra  extends  to  the  post  office  of  Aughrim.  The  present 
(1916)  Catholic  population  of  the  diocese  is  about  97,000  out  of 
a total  population  of  105,700. 


XXIV. 


CiMSCOPAI,  JUIUI.I'.E  OF 


Deanery  of  Enniscorthy 


Enniscorthy. 

Ballindaggin. 

Bree. 

Cloughbawn. 
Daviclstown. 
F eras. 


Parishes  of  : — 

7- 

8. 

9- 

10. 

11. 

12. 


Kilrush. 

Monageer. 

Newtownbarry. 

Oylegate. 

Oulart. 

Rathnure. 


Parish  of  Enniscorthy 


The  earliest  reference  to  the  name  Enniscorthy  {Inis  Coirthe 
—the  island  of  the  standing  stones)  is  in  the  Irish  Life  of  St. 
Senan.  This  great  saint— who  is  more  intimately  associated  with 
Scattery  Island— spent  some  time  in  “ the  green  island  near  the 
river  Slaney  called  Inis  Coirtha."  about  the  year  512,  and  gave  his 
name  to  the  parish  of  Templeshannon  (Teampul  Senain), 
separated  from  Enniscorthy  by  the  present  bridge. 

In  1227  John  de  St.  John,  Bishop  of  Ferns,  assigned  the 
Manor  of  Enniscorthy  to  Philip  Prendergast  in  exchange  for  six 
ploughlands  at  Ballyregan  and  Clone.  About  the  year  1378  Art 
MacMurrough  recovered  the  town  and  district  from  the 
Rochforts,  and  the  parish  of  Enniscorthy  was  formed  circa  1399. 
Thenceforward,  Templeshannon  Church  was  known  as  the  “ old 
church,”  a name  which  it  still  bears.  Previously,  the  district 
had  been  part  of  the  large  parish  of  Templeshanbo,  an  arrange- 
ment which  was  again  adopted  in  1686,  and  so  continued  till 
January,  1742  (see  Ballindaggin).  In  the  Protestant  arrange- 
ment, Templeshannon,  together  with  Ballyhuskard,  Clonmore, 
and  St.  John’s,  was  united  to  Enniscorthy,  by  Act  of  Council,  on 
October  26th,  1778,  but  in  the  Catholic  arrangement  it  formed 
part  of  Edermine.  The  old  “ Mass  House  of  Templeshannon  was 
situated  near  the  present  House  of  Missions,  in  the  cul  de  sac  still 
called  “ Chapel  Lane.”  This  union  of  Templeshannon  and 
Edermine  continued  till  after  the  death  of  Father  Francis  Lacy, 
P.P.,  in  1801,  when  Templeshannon  was  united  to  Enniscorthy. 

The  “ Chapel  House”  of  Enniscorthy  in  the  earl}'’  i8th 
century  was  at  the  junction  of  Irish  Street  and  Island  Road.  So 
great  was  the  bigotry  of  the  period  that  even  in  1745  Father 
Furlong,  P.P.,  had  to  live  in  Monart. 


3 


Enniscorthy  parish  embraces  the  greater  part  of  St.  Mary’s, 
and  of  Templeshannon,  together  with  a small  part  of 
Templeshanbo  and  St.  John’s.  The  oldest  existing  parish 
Register  goes  back  to  1794.  As  stated  in  the  Preface,  the  old 
Cathedral  was  commenced  in  1809  and  completed  in  1813. 
Bishop  Caulfield,  in  1801,  returned  the  parish  of  Enniscorthy  as 
worth  only  £'30  a year,  with  one  curate. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

A list  of  the  Parish  Priests  from  1686  to  1741  will  be  found 
under  Ballindaggin,  as  Enniscorthy  during  that  period  was 
regarded  as  in  the  parish  of  Templeshanbo. 

Rev.  Patrick  Furlong  was  appointed  P.P.  of  Enniscorthy  in 
January,  1742,  and  laboured  till  1750.  He  was  reported  to  the 
Government  by  James  Cookman,  Portreeve  of  Enniscorthy,  on 
March  loth,  1744. 

Rev.  Michael  Hendrick  was  Pastor  for  twenty-seven  years, 
from  1750  to  1777.  Bishop  Sweetman,  in  his  Visitation  Book  of 
1753,  describes  him  as  “ a genteel,  well-spirited  man.” 

Rev.  John  Rossiter  was  P.P.  from  1778  to  1784.  In  the  latter 
year  he  resigned  his  parish,  and  became  an  Augustinian  Friar  at 
New  Ross.  During  his  pastorate  he  rebuilt  the  little  chapel  at 
the  end  of  Irish  Street. 

Rev.  William  Sinnott  was  appointed  P.P.  in  1784  (with  Rev. 
Mogue  Kearns  as  C.C.),  and  had  a pastorate  of  twenty-one  years. 
He  had  been  a married  man  before  he  entered  the  ministry,  and  his 
son,  Rev.  John  Sinnott,  Avas  C.C.  from  1799  to  1816,  when  he  was 
transferred  to  Bannow.  Father  William  Sinnott  endured  all  the 
horrors  of  the  ’98  period.  In  a sworn  affidavit,  dated  July  i8th, 
1801,  he  states  that  he  did  all  in  his  j^ower  to  save  his  Protestant 
neighbours,  and  he  even  brought  the  Protestant  Fiector  of 
Enniscorthy,  Rev.  Joshua  Nunn,  to  his  own  humble  dwelling  and 
gave  him  his  own  bed,  where  the  Rector  remained  in  hiding  for 
a month.  As  is  AA^ell  knoAvn,  Father  Mogue  Kearns,  C.C.,  was 
hanged  at  Edenderry  with  Anthony  Perry,  in  1798. 

Father  Sinnott  died  on  September  8th,  1805,  and  immediately 
the  parish  of  Enniscorthy  \Ams  made  mensal,  with  the  Most  Rev. 
Dr.  Ryan,  Coadjutor  Bishop  of  Ferns,  as  pastor. 


4 


i.* 


En’xiscorthy  Cathedral 


**4. 


Rev.  John  Sutton  was  C.C.  from  1789  to  1801,  when  he  was 
made  P.P.  of  Oylegate.  His  successor  was  Rev.  John  Cousins 
{1804-1807). 

Bishop  Ryan  died  on  March  gth,  1819,  but,  two  months 
previously,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Keating,  was  appointed  Coadjutor, 
and  Pastor  of  Enniscorthy.  On  May  12th,  1819,  Father  O’Neill 
was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Ferns,  wdiereupon  Rev.  George 
VVhitty  was  made  Adm  , with  Rev.  Walter  Rowe  as  C.C.  Two 
years  later,  on  March  4th,  1821,  Father  Rowe  was  made  Adm.  of 
Tagoat,  and  was  replaced  as  C.C.  by  Rev.  Michael  Mitten,  who, 
on  September  8th,  1827,  was  transferred  to  Camolin,  instead  of 
whom  came  Rev.  James  Roche,  recently  ordained  at  Maynooth. 

Rev.  George  Whitty,  Adm.,  was  created  Canon  of  Ferns,  and 
appointed  P.P.  of  Castlebridge  on  October  30th,  1832,  to  whom 
succeeded  Rev.  James  Roche  as  Adm.,  while  Rev.  James  Sinnott, 
from  Cushenstown,  was  sent  as  second  curate.  Long  before  this 
date  it  was  felt  that  a third  curate  was  needed,  owing  to  the 
increased  Catholic  population,  and,  at  length,  on  March  3rd, 
1835,  Rev.  Philip  Meyler  was  appointed  C.C.,  who,  however,  was 
replaced  by  Rev.  Nicholas  Codd,  on  October  21st,  1836.  No 
other  change  is  chronicled  till  February  6th,  1840,  when  Rev. 
James  Sinnott  was  made  P.P.  of  Litter,  and  wms  replaced  by 
Rev.  William  Murphy,  C.C.,  of  Crossabeg.  Seven  months  later. 
Very  Rev.  James  (Canon)  Roche,  Adm.,  was  appointed  P.P.  of 
Ferns.  On  February  27th,  1846,  Rev.  Nicholas  Codd,  Adm.,  was 
sent  to  Carrick  (Bannow)  and  was  replaced  by  Rev.  William 
Murphy.  At  the  same  time  Rev.  Thomas  Roche  came  as  C.C. 


ENNISCORTHY  CATHEDRAL. 

On  March  13th,  1838,  there  was  a meeting  held,  presided 
over  by  Bishop  Keating,  to  determine  the  fate  of  the  old 
Cathedral,  as  the  roof  was  in  a ruinous  condition.  After  much 
debate,  it  w^as  decided  to  temporarily  repair  the  roof,  but  Bishop 
Keating  made  up  his  mind  to  erect  a Cathedral  worthy  of  the 
See  of  Ferns,  and,  in  1842  he  commissioned  Pugin  to  draw  up 
plans.  Accordingly,  in  July,  1843,  the  foundation  stone  of  the 
present  beautiful  Cathedral  was  laid. 


5 


As  the  new  Cathedral  was  built  outside  the  old  Cathedral, 
the  transepts,  chancel,  and  bell  tower  were  first  undertaken,  and 
were  finished  on  June  29th,  1846,  when  Mass  was  celebrated  in 
the  partly-finished  building  for  the  first  time.  The  portion  of 
the  nave  running  from  the  transepts  to  the  entrance  door  was 
commenced  in  1846,  and  finished  in  1848.  All  the  bluish-tinted 
stones  used  in  the  western  front  of  the  Cathedral  were  taken  from 
the  ruinous  Franciscan  Friary  between  the  years  1843-1847. 
Owing  to  the  famine  year  of  1848,  and  the  serious  illness 
of  Bishop  Keating,  building  operations  were  suspended  for  a 
time. 

Bishop  Keating  died  on  September  7th,  1849,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Bishop  Murph}^  who  was  consecrated  on  March 
loth,  1850.  Dr.  Murphy  resumed  building  operations,  and 
commenced  the  grand  central  tower,  which  was  completed  in 
November,  1S50.  He  also  purchased  a magnificent  bell  and  a 
fine  organ,  built  by  White,  of  Dublin.  The  Stations  of  the  Cross 
were  erected  on  June  29th,  1855. 

Bishop  Murphy  died  on  August  13th,  1836,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Bishop  Furlong,  who  became  Pastor  of  Enniscorthy  on  March 
22nd,  1857.  Not  long  afterwards,  he  secured  the  services  of  J.  J. 
MacCarthy  as  architect,  who,  following  Pugin's  plans,  designed 
the  chancel  screen,  altars,  reredos,  sanctuarj-,  and  internal 
decorations. 

The  first  mission  given  in  the  Cathedral  was  by  the 
Redemptorist  Fathers,  in  June,  1857.  Father  Furniss,  C.SS.R., 
conducted  a special  mission  for  children  in  August  following. 
A renewal  mission  was  given  in  February,  1S58,  on  which 
occasion  the  Mission  Cross  at  the  back  of  the  high  altar  was 
erected  Rev.  Michael  Warren  came  as  C.C.  in  1857,  and  in 
October,  i860.  Rev.  William  Murphy,  Adm.,  was  promoted  to  the 
pastorate  of  Crossabeg,  being  replaced  by  Rev.  I'homas  Roche, 
who  had  been  C.C.  since  1846. 

The  Cathedral  was  dedicated  on  June  29th,  1863,  the  special 
preacher  being  Rev.  Dr.  Ullathorne.  A year  later  the  famous 
Father  Tom  Burke,  O.P.,  preached  in  aid  of  the  building  fund 
on  Low  Sunday,  1864.  On  October  7th,  1866,  Rev.  John  L. 
Furlong  and  Rev.  William  O’Neill  came  as  curates,  but  the 
latter  was  sent  to  Blackwater  in  1868. 

6 


Rev.  Thomas  Roche,  Adm.,  was  made  P.P.  of  Lady’s  Island 
in  June,  1868,  and  was  replaced  by  Rev.  John  L.  Furlong,  with 
Rev.  Denis  O’Connor  and  Rev,  Mark  O’Gorman  as  curates. 

On  January  ist,  1871,  a meeting  was  held  at  w'hicS  steps 
were  taken  to  complete  the  Cathedral,  Mr.  Ryan,  of  Waterford, 
being  selected  as  builder.  In  May,  1872,  the  tower  was  discovered 
to  be  “sagging,”  and,  accordingly,  the  well-nigh  completed  spire, 
as  well  as  the  tower,  had  to  be  taken  down.  At  length,  on 
August  23rd,  1873,  Father  Furlong  placed  the  grand  cross,  on  the 
pinnacle  of  the  spire,  into  position. 

The  length  of  the  Cathedral  is  175  feet,  and  the  width  across 
the  transepts  is  78  feet.  The  entrance  door  is  deeply  recessed, 
with  a double  set  of  elaborate  mouldings,  and  above  it  is  an 
exquisite  window,  consisting  of  five  main  lights,  the  mullions 
developing  into  intricate  tracery  of  circle  and  trefoil.  The 
window  at  the  back  of  the  high  altar  consists  of  seven  main 
lights,  with  charming  tracer}'.  The  aisles  are  connected  with 
the  nave  by  twelve  high  arches,  supported  on  circular  columns  ; 
and  the  roof  is  open  wood  work  richly  decorated.  All  the 
windows  are  fitted  with  stained  glass.  The  spire  is  almost  230 
feet  high. 

Bishop  Furlong  died  November  12th,  1875,  and  had  as 
successor  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Warren,  who  was  consecrated  on  May 
7th,  1876.  Five  days  later  the  Bishop  promoted  Rev.  J.  L. 
Furlong  to  the  pastorate  of  Ballygarret,  and  the  Rev.  Denis 
O'Connor  was  made  Adm. 

Bishop  Warren’s  rule  was  brief,  and  his  death  took  place  on 
April  22nd,  1884.  He  was  succeeded  by  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Browne, 
who  became  Pastor  on  September  14th,  1884.  In  1885  a 
magnificent  memorial  window  to  Bishop  Warren  was  erected 
by  James  and  Catherine  Malone,  at  a cost  of  350  guineas.  The 
beautiful  Calvary  was  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Cogley  in  1887,  while 
the  Stations  of  the  Cross  and  the  marble  altar  rails  were 
presented  by  the  Holy  Family  Confraternities.  The  altars- — all 
in  Carrara  marble — were  erected  by  public  subscription  ; and  the 
Bishop’s  throne  and  the  pulpit  are  splendid  specimens  of  wood- 
carving. 


7 


Fiev.  Denis  O’Connor,  Adm.,  was  appointed  P.P.  of  Litter 
in  July,  1889,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William  Fortune,  who 
had  been  C.C.  since  June,  1876.  Father  Fortune  collected 
subscrfptions  for  a fine  three-manual  organ  (by  Telford  of  Dublin), 
in  1894,  at  a cost  of  close  on  £1,000.  In  1896  he  was  promoted  to 
the  pastorate  of  Piercestown,  and  was  subsequently  made  Canon 
of  Ferns. 

Rev.  Patrick  O’Connor  (C.C.  from  1886)  was  made  Adm.  in 
1896,  and  effected  further  improvements  in  the  Cathedral, 
including  a new  rotary  action  to  the  large  bell,  and  a nevA^  gas 
supply.  He  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Davidstown  in 
April,  1S98. 

Rev.  John  Dunne,  C.C.  from  1883,  and  Adm.  from  1898  to 
1907,  provided  new  pitch  pine  seats  for  the  aisles,  and  had  the 
Cathedral  decorated.  He  was  made  P.P.  of  Annacurra  in 
February,  1907. 

Rev.  Robert  Fitzhenr}"  (C.C.  from  March,  1898)  was  appointed 
Adm.  in  Februar}'-,  1907,  and  he  has  worked  zealously  in  regard 
to  the  spiritual  and  temporal  interest  of  the  parish.  His  work  in 
enlarging  and  beautifying  the  Cathedral  grounds  and  cemetery, 
in  providing  a new  mortuary  chapel  and  baptistery,  a superb 
silver  sanctuary  lamp,  etc.,  will  long  be  remembered.  MoreoA^er, 
he  built  the  present  magnificent  Presbytery— one  of  the  finest  in 
Ireland.  He  introduced  the  children’s  Mass,  and  the  Forty 
Hours’  Devotion.  Nor  must  it  be  forgotten  that,  in  1912,  he 
aA'erted  a very  serious  strike  in  Enniscorthy,  Avhen  Larkinism 
sought  to  obtain  a footing. 


RELIGIOUS  HOUSES. 

I.— Presentation  Convent. 

On  Jul}^  17th,  1826,  the  Presentation  Convent  Avas  founded  by 
Bishop  Keating,  being  colonised  from  Wexford,  Avith  Mrs. 
Devereux  as  Superioress,  AA'ho  died  November  5th,  1844.  The 
new  convent  Avas  opened  in  1840,  and  the  pretty  convent  chapel 
was  built  in  1859.  In  no  provincial  tOAvn  are  there  better 
equipped  schools,  including  departments  for  cookery,  iieedleAvork, 


8 


kindergarten,  domestic  economy,  etc.,  and  the  average  attendance 
is  about  three  hundred  and  fort^^  For  nearly  fift}^  years  the  late 
Sister  Josephine  Mulvanny  worked  strenuously  in  the  interests  of 
the  schools,  and  kept  the  standard  of  education  well  abreast  of 
the  times.  The  present  Reverend  Mother  is  Mrs.  M.  Teresa. 

II. — Mercy  Convent. 

In  i860  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  were  given  a foundation  at 
Blackstoops,  but  soon  after  they  moved  to  a more  desirable  site 
in  Templeshannon.  There  is  a fine  convent,  adjoining  well- 
equipped  schools,  the  average  attendance  at  which  is  over  two 
hundred.  An  Industrial  School  is  attached,  in  which  the  Nuns 
instruct  the  the  pupils  in  sewing,  knitting,  linen  work,  hosier}',  etc. 
There  is  also  a laundry.  The  present  Reverend  Mother  is  Mother 
Alacoque  Ryan. 


III. — Loretto  Convent. 

On  October  15th,  1872,  Bishop  Furlong  founded  this  convent, 
which  was  colonised  from  Rathfarnham,  with  Mrs.  Barry  as  first 
Superioress.  The  Nuns  conduct  an  excellent  secondary  school, 
dedicated  to  Our  Lady  of  the  Angels,  and  the  average  attendance 
of  day  pupils  is  about  thirh’.  Mother  Paul  MacDonnell  is  the 
present  Superioress. 

IV.— Sisters  of  St.  John  of  God. 

In  November,  1897,  the  Sisters  of  St.  John  of  God  were  given 
a foundation,  owing  to  the  munificence  of  the  late  Mrs.  Cogley. 
Previously  the  Sisters  had  charge  of  the  Workhouse  Infirmary, 
where  they  still  do  excellent  work.  The  convent  adjoins  that  of 
the  Loretto  Nuns,  and  the  Sisters  act  as  nurses  in  the  district. 
One  of  the  Sisters  also  had  charge  of  the  Cathedral  altar  linen,  etc. 

V.— Christian  Brothers. 

From  1818  to  1857  there  was  a Free  School  attached  to  the 
Cathedral,  on  the  Lancasterian  system.  However,  Bishop  Furlong 
decided  to  introduce  the  Christian  Brothers,  and,  accordingly,  on 
September  8th,  1852,  Brother  Philip  Slattery  (who  died  at  New 


9 


Ross,  in  1897,  opened  the  Christian  Schools  in  Templeshannon. 
A more  central  site  was  secured  in  1869,  and  the  present  schools, 
Island  Road,  were  opened,  in  1870  In  1896,  through  the  efforts 
of  Brother  Kelly  (Superior  from  1888-1898),  a very  fine  residence 
was  built  in  Mill  Park.  The  schools  have  been  successful  at  the 
Intermediate  Examinations  since  1894,  especially  in  1898,  when 
Brother  Leahy  was  Superior.  From  1910  to  1915  Brother  Hogan 
has  kept  the  schools  in  the  highest  state  of  efficiency.  The 
average  attendance  is  about  three  hundred. 


VI. — House  of  Missions. 

On  October  t7th,  1866,  Bishop  Furlong  founded  the  House  of 
Missions,  under  the  tutelage  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  Owing 
to  the  generosity  of  the  late  Mr.  Richard  Devereux,  a commodious 
residence  was  built  in  Templeshannon  in  1869,  and  the  first 
Superior  of  the  Missioners  of  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament  (MSS.) 
was  Father  Michael  Warren — the  members  being  secular  priests 
living  in  community,  whose  chief  object  is  to  give  missions  and 
retreats. 

In  1870  the  staff  of  the  House  of  Missions  was  as  follows: — 
Rev.  M.  Warren,  Rev.  A.  Brownrigg,  Rev.  James  Cullen.  Rev. 
Thomas  Cloney,  Rev.  Sylvester  Cloney,  Rev.  Michael  Kelly, 
Rev.  William  Whitty,  and  Rev.  James  Busher.  Of  these  eight, 
three  became  distinguished  members  of  the  Hierarchy,  namely. 
Bishop  Warren  of  Ferns,  Bishop  Brownrigg  of  Ossory,  and 
Archbishop  Kelly  of  Sydney,  while  Father  Cullen  joined  the 
Jesuits,  and  has  become  famous  as  the  founder  of  the  “ Pioneer  ” 
organisation.  Another  member  of  the  staff  in  more  recent  years. 
Rev.  Henry  W.  Cleary,  is  the  present  esteemed  Bishop  of 
Auckland. 

From  1884  to  February,  1897,  Father  William  Whitty  was 
Superior.  On  the  latter  date  he  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate 
of  Lady’s  Island,  whence  he  was  transferred  to  Newtownbarry, 
and  he  was  subsequently  made  Archdeacon  of  Ferns,  a position 
which  he  occupied  till  his  lamented  death  in  1914. 

From  1897  to  1906  Father  John  Lennon  was  Superior.  In  the 
latter  year  he  was  appointed  Parish  Priest  of  Rathangan,  and 


10 


subsequently  Canon.  His  successor,  Father  James  Quigley  (1906- 
igog)  was  made  P.P.  of  Castlebridge,  and  has  recently  (1914)  been 
made  a Canon. 

Rev.  John  Rossiter,  elected  Superior  in  1909,  has  effected 
many  improvements,  and  has  adorned  the  private  chapel  with  a 
beautiful  stained  glass  window. 

The  chapel  of  St.  Senan,  attached  to  the  Mission  House,  is  a 
chapel  of  ease  to  the  Cathedral,  and  is  a great  convenience  to  the 
Catholic  inhabitants  of  Templeshannon  and  Drumgoole. 

ANTIQUITIES. 

The  Duffrey  embraces  a large  district  around  Enniscorthy, 
and  is  associated  with  many  legends.  In  more  recent  times  the 
village  of  Forge — now  disappeared — testifies  to  the  old  iron 
works,  which  were  in  operation  till  1770.  The  Enniscorthy 
brooch  is  a beautiful  example  of  14th  century  work  : it  is  of  gold, 
set  with  four  emeralds  and  two  garnets,  and  bears  a French 
inscription  in  Gothic  characters.  It  was  found  in  the  ruined 
Franciscan  Friary  in  1832,  and  is  now  in  the  British  Museum. 
An  old  church  was  formerly  at  Kilcannon,  but  no  traces  of  it  now 
remain.  There  is  a splendid  moat  at  Ballymotey.  Brownswood 
Castle  (battered  by  Cromw'ell)  is  still  in  fair  preservation. 
Enniscorthy  Castle  was  completely  restored  by  the  late  Mr.  P.  J. 
Roche,  in  1903,  and  is  now  a fine  residential  mansion. 

ST.  SENAN’S  CHURCH. 

The  old  church  of  St.  Senan  at  Templeshannon  was  built  on 
the  site  of  the  Celtic  church,  and  is  now  in  a ruinous  state.  Were 
It  not  that  a wall  was  built  round  the  church  and  graveyard  in 
1814  it  is  doubtful  if  any  fragment  of  the  church  would  have 
survived.  O’Donovan’s  account  in  1840  is  about  equally  true  of 
to-day  (1915),  as  the  surrounding  high  wall  prevented  vandalism, 
and  Time  has  dealt  tenderly  with  this  12th-century  fane; — 
“ The  nave  is  about  30  feet  in  length,  by  igl-  in  breadth.  The 
side  walls,  which  appear  to  retain  the  original  height,  and  extend 
the  entire  length  of  this  portion  of  the  church,  are  about  18  feet 
high.  Only  the  northern  portion  of  the  gable  remains ; and,  at 
the  southern  extremity  of  the  part  remaining,  there  is  a large 


II 


stone,  which  seems  to  have  been  the  lower  stone  of  a doorway.  The 
walls  of  the  nave  are  about  three  feet  thick,  and  they  are  covered 
with  ivy.  The  choir  was  about  twelve  and  a half  paces  long, 
and  it  appears  to  have  been  of  the  same  breadth  with  the  nave  ; 
but,  as  its  side  walls  are  now  level  with  the  ground,  it  is 
impossible  to  measure  the  breadth  with  accuracy.  The  east 
gable  is  almost  perfect,  being  slightly  injured,  however,  at  the 
top.  In  this  gable  there  is  a square  window,  formed  of  granite, 
on  the  outside,  where  it  is  about  three  feet  high,  bj'  two  and 
a half  feet — it  widens  considerably  on  the  inside.  This  gable  is 
built  of  small  and  very  thin  stones,  and  it  is  about  two  and 
a half  feet  in  thickness.  The -nave  is  built  of  large  and  small 
stones.” 

Adjoining  the  cemetery — where  there  are  a number  of 
interesting  tombs — in  the  garden  of  Mr.  James  Donohoe,  is  St. 
Senan’s  Well,  which  was  formerly  much-resorted,  famed  for  its 
curative  properties.  Not  far  off  is  the  butt  of  a round  tower. 
The  ruins  of  the  old  Manor  House  are  at  the  rear  of  Mr.  James 
Donohoe’s  house. 


THE  FRANCISCAN  FRIARY. 

In  1457,  just  before  the  resignation  of  Bishop  Whitty,  Donal 
fiisciis  (the  brown)  Kavanagh,  King  of  Leinster,  gave  a foundation 
to  the  Franciscan  Friars  of  the  Strict  Observance.  The  Friary 
was  dedicated  on  October  i8th,  1460,  and  was  well  endowed  by 
the  noble  founder.  After  the  Dissolution  it  was  granted  to  John 
Travers,  on  February  4th,  1544,  but  the  Friars  were  able  to  retain 
possession  till  1561  : in  fact,  they  held  the  Friary  till  1582.  The 
conventual  buildings,  including  the  church,  covered  two  acres, 
and — together  with  the  mills,  orchards,  gardens,  etc. — occupied 
the  site  of  the  present  square  known  as  “ The  Abbey,”  the  Bank 
of  Ireland,  and  the  extensive  stores  of  Messrs.  Davis,  Mr.  P. 
O’Neill,  the  Co-operative  Stores,  and  Lett’s  Brew'ery. 

In  Wadding’s  Annals  it  is  stated  that  in  1582,  Father  Tadhg 
O’Morchoe  (Guardian  of  the  Friary),  with  the  Vicar  and  Sacristan, 
“were  seized  in  the  Franciscan  Convent,  Enniscorthy,  by  Sir 
Henry  Wallop  and  a troop  of  soldiers,  and  after  being  tortured 


12 


for  five  days,  were  put  to  death  for  the  faith.”  Four  years  later 
Wallop  purchased  the  Friary  for  a trifle,  and  the  convent  was 
used  as  a Sessions  House  in  the  early  years  of  the  17th  century. 

Although  the  Friars  were  forced  to  leave  their  old  abode, 
some  of  the  Order  continued  their  ministrations  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood till  1642,  when  they  got  back  their  convent  and  held  it 
until  the  arrival  of  Cromwell  in  September,  1649.  At  the  General 
Chapter  held  on  8th  September,  1661,  Father  Philip  Kelly  was 
elected  Guardian,  and  a regular  succession  of  titular  Guardians 
was  kept  up  till  the  first  half  of  the  19th  century. 

From  1650  to  1710  the  conventual  buildings  gradually  became 
ruinous,  but  portion  of  the  Friary  was  used  as  a Protestant 
school.  From  1808-1839  tons  of  stones  were  carted  away  from 
the  dismantled  out-offices,  but  the  church — described  by  Lewis, 
in  1837,  as  “ a splendid  structure  with  a lofty  square  tower  on 
four  pointed  arches” — survived.  At  length,  on  the  23rd  of 
October,  1839,  the  tower  fell  to  pieces.  Two  of  the  arches  still 
remain,  one  of  which  is  in  Lett’s  Brewery  and  the  other  in  St. 
John’s  Mill.  Not  a vestige  remains  of  this  once  beautiful  Friary  ; 
the  site  of  the  church  is  occupied  by  the  Bank  of  Ireland.  The 
sole  memorials  of  the  Friary  are  the  place-names:  “Abbey 
Square,”  “ Friary  Hill”  and  “ Friary  Place.” 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  titular  Guardians  of  Enniscorthy 
from  1733  to  1800  : — 


1733- 

V.A.P. 

Franciscus  Cahan. 

1735- 

V.A.P. 

Aneas  Lyons. 

1736. 

V.A.P. 

Joannes  Burn. 

173B. 

V.A.P. 

Franciscus  Curtis. 

1741. 

V.A.P. 

Patricius  Hacket,  S.T.L. 

1742. 

V.A.P. 

Emmanuel  Burn. 

1744. 

V.A.P. 

PaP  Nowlan 

1745- 

V.A.P. 

Christophorous  Barnewall,  S.T.L. 

1746. 

V.A.P. 

Thom.  Paye,  S.T.L. 

1747. 

V.A.P. 

Thomas.  Paye,  S.T.L. 

1748. 

V.A.P. 

Ludovicus  0’Ler5^ 

1751- 

V.A.P. 

Frans.  Tobin. 

1752. 

V.A.P. 

Thomas  Paye. 

1753- 

R.P. 

Ant.  Fox,  Ex.  Deff. 

13 


1754- 

V.A.P. 

Fran.  Granell. 

1755- 

V.A.P. 

Fran.  Granell,  Ex.  Diff. 

1757- 

V.A.P. 

Thom®-  Donagh. 

1759- 

V.A.P. 

Thomas  M‘:Donagh. 

1760. 

A.V.P. 

Patricius  Kane. 

1761. 

V.A.P. 

Franciscus  O'Neil. 

1763- 

V.A.P. 

Joannes  Mahon. 

1765- 

V.A.P. 

Chris.  Flemming,  S.T.L. 

1767. 

V.A.P. 

Joannes  Scallan. 

1770. 

Jac.  Flanagan. 

1772. 

Jac.  Charlton. 

1773- 

Franciscus  Sutton. 

1776. 

Ambrosius  Scallan. 

1778 

V.A.P. 

Franciscus  Sutton,  S.T.L. 

1779. 

A.V.P. 

Patritius  Pettit. 

1781. 

V.A.P. 

Franciscus  Sutton,  S.T.L. 

1782. 

V.A.P. 

Ambrosius  Scallan. 

1784. 

V.A.P. 

Franciscus  Colter. 

1785- 

V.A  P. 

Fran.  Sutton,  S.T.L.,  et  ex  Diff. 

1786. 

1787. 

1788. 

R.P. 

Fran.  Sutton,  Ex.  Diff. 

1790. 

R.P. 

Fran.  Sutton,  S.T.L.,  Ex.  Diff. 

1791. 

R.P. 

)>  JJ 

1793- 

»> 

if  >> 

1794- 

V.A.P. 

Richardus  Sinnott. 

1796. 

if 

1800. 

V.A.P. 

Richardus  Sinnott. 

H 


Parish  of  Ballindaggin 


The  parish  of  Ballindaggin  represents  the  ancient  parish  of 
Templeshanbo,  and  formerly  included  the  more  modern  parish  of 
Kilmeashall,  now  merged  into  Newtownbarry.  The  church  of 
Templeshanbo  (the  church  of  the  old  huts  or  oratories)  was 
founded  by  St.  Aedan,  who  gave  it  to  St.  Colman  Ua  Fiachra 
(the  founder  of  Kilmacduagh).  Some  have  imagined  that  the 
etymology  of  the  place-name  had  reference  to  a legendary  “ old 
cow,”  but  in  the  “ Irish  Life  of  St.  Aedan”  the  name  is  given  as 
Temple  Seanbotha,  “ old  huts.”  St.  Colman  died  in  the  first  half 
of  the  7th  century,  and  his  feast  is  observed  on  October  27th. 
His  church  and  well  are  stated  in  the  Irish  Life  to  be  at  the  foot 
of  Mount  Leinster,  and,  in  the  Martyrology  of  Donegal  it  is  stated 
that  he  was  Abbot  of  the  monastery  of  Templeshanbo  in  Hy 
Kinsellagh,  where  he  was  interred.  According  to  the  Commentator 
of  St.  Aengus,  there  is  a pond  or  pool  near  the  church  in  which 
there  were  sacred  ducks,  and,  according  to  the  legend,  “ though 
these  ducks  were  caught  and  boiled  over  a fire,  the  cauldron 
could  not  be  heated,  and  so  the  ducks  would  have  to  be  taken 
out  of  the  cauldron  and  put  back  into  the  pond.”  This  legend  is 
also  mentioned  by  Colgan,  who  identifies  our  saint  with  St. 
Colman  MacEochy  of  Kilmacduagh  and  of  Inishmurry,  Co.  Sligo. 

Templeshanbo  included  the  whole  of  the  Duffrey,  and  was  at 
one  time  the  largest  parish  in  the  diocese  of  Ferns,  d'he 
monastery  disappeared  in  the  loth  century,  but  the  church 
continued,  and  has  two  graveyards  attached  to  it.  On  October 
1 2th,  1451,  Robert  O’Farrell  was  collated  by  the  Pope  to  the 
Rectory  of  the  parish  church  of  T empleshanbo  of  the  patronage  of 
laymen,  value  not  exceeding  12  marks  sterling.  After  the  year 
1570  Enniscorthy  was  merely  a chapelry  under  Templeshanbo 
until  the  year  1742,  when  it  became  a separate  parish. 
Templeshanbo  also  included  the  district  now  represented  by 
Newtownbarry  until  the  middle  of  i8th  century.  The  thatched 
chapel  of  Coolycarney  was  built  about  the  year  1780 — replacing 
the  thatched  chapel  of  Ballyphilip, 


15 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 


The  first  post-Reformation  Pastor  of  whom  there  is  an\' 
record  is  Very  Rev.  Daniel  O’Brien,  who  laboured  from  1615  to 
1648.  In  1632  he  was  made  Archdeacon  of  Ferns,  and,  on  the 
death  of  Rev.  Dr.  Devereux  he  was  given  the  Deanery  of  Ferns, 
with  the  parish  of  IMayglass.  Dean  O’Brien  was  martyred  for 
the  faith,  at  Wexford,  on  Holy  Saturday,  1655,  and  his  cause  is 
included  with  those  of  the  Irish  martyrs  now  engaging  the 
attention  of  the  Holy  See. 

Rev.  Michael  Fitzhenry  was  Pastor  of  Templeshanbo  and 
Enniscorthy  from  1686  to  1717.  He  registered  himself  in  1704, 
and  gave  his  place  of  residence  as  vShraughmore. 

Rev.  Thady  Grannell  laboured  in  the  district  from  1717  to 
1736  when  he  retired.  His  death  occurred  on  December  17th, 
1741.  After  his  death  Enniscorthy  was  made  a separate  parish. 

Rev.  John  Grannell  was  P.P.  from  1736  to  1768.  Bishop 
Sweetman  held  a Confirmation  at  the  thatched  chapel  of 
Ballyphilip  in  1753. 

Rev.  Mogue  Redmond  laboured  from  1768  till  November  21st, 
1775- 

Rev.  Myles  O’Connor  was  P.P.  from  December,  1775  to  1804. 
During  his  pastorate  the  parish  became  known  as  Ballindaggin. 
He  was  much  persecuted  during  the  ’98  Insurrection,  and  both  of 
his  chapels  at  Kiltealy  and  Cairn  were  burned  by  the  Orange 
faction — the  former  on  October  ist,  1799,  and  the  latter  on 
September  3rd,  1800.  He  lived  at  Coolycarney  Cottage,  where 
he  was  visited  by  Lord  Edward  Fitzgerald  and  Anthony  Perry, 
with  a view  of  permitting  a branch  of  the  United  Irishmen  to  be 
formed  in  his  parish,  but  he  declined  to  have  anything  to  do  with 
the  movement.  He  resigned  in  1804. 

A certain  Father  Stafford  was  P.P.  from  1804  fo  1815,  but  no 
particulars  of  his  pastorate  have  been  recorded. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Sinnott  (a  Maynooth  student)  laboured  for  ten 
years,  and  died  November  26th,  1825,  aged  48. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Dunne,  C.C.  of  Cushinstown  since 
1814,  was  appointed  P.P.  in  December,  1825,  and  governed  the 
parish  for  twenty-two  years.  Rev.  Walter  Furlong  was  C.C. 
from  1824  to  1829,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Marshalstown.  He 


16 


was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Owen  Dempsey  (1829-1837).  Canon 
Dunne’s  death  occurred  on  November  15th,  1857,  aged  78.  During 
his  time  there  were  chapels  at  Ballindaggin,  Cairn,  and  Kiltealy. 

Rev.  William  Roche,  who  had  been  C.C.  of  the  parish  for 
eighteen  years  was  appointed  P.P.  in  December,  1857,  and 
laboured  till  his  death,  at  the  age  of  81,  on  October  gth,  1872. 
He  built  the  present  substantial  church,  which  was  formally 
opened  for  worship  on  May  4th,  1864. 

Very  Rev.  William  (Canon)  Sinnott,  C.C.  of  New  Ross  since 
1862,  was  appointed  Adm.  in  June,  1871,  and  P.P.  on  October  gth, 
1872.  He  fell  into  ill  health  in  i8g2,  and  retired  from  the  ministry 
in  November,  i8g3.  His  death  took  place  on  June  gth,  i8g5, 
aged  66. 

Very  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon)  Meehan,  C.C.  of  Bannow  since  1885, 
was  appointed  P.P.  on  December  30th,  i8g3,  and  is  the  present 
Pastor.  He  re-roofed,  renovated,  and  decorated  the  parochial 
church  of  St.  Colman,  in  i8gg,  and  he  has  effected  considerable 
improvements  in  the  parish. 

ANTIQUITIES. 

Of  the  ancient  church  of  St.  Colman  only  a fragment  remains, 
namely,  portion  of  the  semi-circular-headed  doorway  in  the 
western  gable.  St.  Colman’s  Well  and  the  two  churchyards  of 
Templeshanbo  are  well  worthy  of  a visit. 

In  the  Protestant  arrangement  Monart  was  made  a separate 
parish  in  the  early  years  of  the  last  century,  but  in  the  Catholic 
arrangement  it  is  included  in  Templeshanbo.  The  old  church 
was  at  Ballynakill,  and  is  known  as  Coillthaun. 

At  one  time  there  was  a village  at  Forge  (a  famous  factory  for 
sword  blades),  but  the  village  has  long  since  disappeared.  The 
factory  was  utilised  in  1818  as  a distillery— and  was  hence 
re-christened  “ the  Still,”  a name  which  it  still  bears.  The  Still 
was  closed  after  the  temperance  crusade  ty  Father  Mathew,  and 
was  converted  into  a flour  mill. 

Newtown  has  also  disappeared — a result  of  the  failure  of  the 
lead  mines  at  Cairn. 

The  woods  of  Killoughrim  are  a remnant  of  the  Duffre)',  and 
acquired  considerable  notoriety  in  ’g8. 

17 

c 


Parish  of  Bree 


The  parish  of  Bree  represents  the  old  parishes  of  Clonmore, 
Ballyhogue,  and  Kilcowanmore  (Ballybrennan).  It  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  the  Boro  river ; by  the  Poulanass  river 
on  the  south  ; the  Slaney  on  the  east ; and  by  the  road  running 
from  Adamstown  to  Wilkinstown  on  the  west. 

Clonmore  (the  great  meadow)  was  a Celtic  foundation  of 
St.  Aedan  of  Ferns,  who  placed  St.  Deichola  garbh  over  it. 
Ballyhogue  (dedicated  to  St.  John)  was  also  very  ancient, 
although  the  place  name  is  non-ecclesiastical,  meaning  “ the 
townland  of  the  fairies.”  Kilcowanmore  (Ballybrennan)  was 
founded  by  St.  Cuana,  and  was  an  impropriation  of  the  Knights 
Hospitallers. 

Until  the  year  1791  Bree  included  the  present  parish  of 
Davidstown  (see  Davidstown).  Since  1883  Barmoney  (formerly 
belonging  to  Glynn)  has  been  added  to  Bree. 

Bishop  Caulfield,  in  1801,  returned  Bree  as  worth  £‘40  a year, 
with  no  curate.  The  Baptismal  and  Marriage  Registers  go  back 
to  1837. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

The  earliest  recorded  Pastor  in  the  17th  century  is  Father 
George  Wotton,  O.F.M.,  who  laboured  in  the  district  from  1688 
to  1714.  In  1704  he  registered  himself  as  P.P.  of  Clonmore, 
Ballyhogue,  Killurin,  and  St.  John’s.  He  was  then  aged  52,  and 
resided  at  Coolinick.  He  was  arrested  in  1714  and  brought  to 
Wexford  jail,  for  the  sole  offence  of  being  a priest,  and  he  died  a 
Confessor  for  the  Faith  in  1720. 

Rev.  Robert  Sutton  was  P.P.  of  Bree  and  Davidstown  from 
1714  to  1733,  but  no  records  of  his  pastorate  have  survived. 


18 


Rev.  Peter  Manly  had  a short  rule,  as  his  death  occurred  in 
1737,  aged  34. 

Rev.  Michael  O’Brien  was  appointed  P.P  in  1737.  His 
modest  “Mass  house”  was  in  Garr — the  site  of  which  is  still 
pointed  out.  He  was  a splendid  Irish  scholar  and  preacher,  as  is 
testified  by  Bishop  Sweetman  in  his  Visitation  Book  of  1753. 
His  death  took  place  in  1762,  age  66,  occasioned  by  a fall  from 
his  horse  when  returning  home  after  christening  Rose  Whitty  of 
Macmine,  who  lived  to  the  great  age  of  104. 

Rev.  Francis  Redmond,  O. I'. M.,  was  made  ad  interim  Pastor 
in  1762,  but  only  exercised  the  pastoral  office  for  one  year.  His 
chalice  was  in  use  till  1895,  when  it  was  restored  to  the  Franciscan 
Friars  of  Wexford.  It  was  inscribed  as  follows: — “ Francisc. 
Conv.  Wexford.  Pray  for  the  soul  of  John  Redmond,  of 
Killigowan,  who  ordered  this  to  be  made.  Anno  Domini,  1723, 
and  also  for  the  soul  of  Catherine,  his  wife,  their  posterit}'’,  and 
the  Rev.  Francis  Redmond,  the  donor.” 

Very  Rev.  Thomas  Loftus  (Canon)  Brennan  was  P.P.  from 
1763  to  December,  1775.  He  was  interred  in  W'hitechurch- Glynn, 
and  his  tomb  bears  the  following  inscription  “ There  is  also 
interred  beneath  this  tomb  his  great-uncle,  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Brennan,  P.P.  of  Bree  and  Davidstown,  who  died  December  7th, 

1775— RIP” 

Very  Rev.  Mark  (Canon)  Devereux— a distinguished  graduate 
of  Louvain — had  a pastorate  of  almost  61  years.  He  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  19th  January,  1776  and  died  on  December  5th, 
1836,  aged  86. 

Very  Rev.  Philip  (Canon)  Devereux,  C.C.  of  Bree  from 
March,  1834,  was  appointed  P.P.  of  Bree  on  19th  December,  1836, 
and  he  at  once  set  about  building  a new  church.  On  November 
4th,  1837,  Colonel  Alcock,  of  Wilton  Castle,  generously  gave  an 
acre  of  ground  free  for  ever  for  the  project,  and  the  work  pro- 
ceeded apace.  It  was  completed  in  1839,  and  was  dedicated  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin  under  her  title  of  the  Assumption,  as  is  evident 
from  a sculptured  slab  over  the  church  porch — “ Sub  tutela  Beatae 
Mariae  Virginis  Assumptae  haececclesia  aedificata  et  dedicata  fuit 
Philippo  Devereux  pasture.  An.  Incar.  Dom.  MDCCCXXXIX.” 
The  old  church  was  subsequently  converted  into  a schoolhouse. 
Canon  Devereux  died  May  12th,  1862. 


19 


Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Scallan,  a Roman  student,  who  had 
laboured  as  C.C.  of  Bree  for  over  21  years,  from  October,  1840, 
was  appointed  Pastor  on  May  15th,  1862.  After  a rule  of  32  years 
he  died  on  the  i6th  of  August,  1895. 

Very  Rev.  Patrick  (Canon)  Sheil,  who  had  been  C.C.  of  the 
parish  since  January,  1883,  was  made  P.P.  on  August  23rd,  1895, 
and  is  the  present  pastor.  He  has  done  excellent  educational 
and  social  work  during  20  j^ears. 

ANTIQUITIES. 

Clonmore  w'as  known  formerly  as  Clonmore  Deichola  ^arb/r, 
to  distinguish  it  from  Clonmore,  Co.  Carlow,  or  Clonmore- 
Maedhoc.  Both  were  founded  by  St.  Aedan  of  Ferns,  who  placed 
his  disciple  St.  Deichola  garbh  over  the  Bree  foundation.  There 
is  a holy  well  at  Clonmore. 

Kilcarberj'  {Cill  Cairbre) — also  known  as  Ederminebeg — was 
a Celtic  foundation.  Scarcely  a trace  of  it  now  remains.  One 
of  the  stone  arches  of  the  church  (in  reality  a chapel  of  ease) 
was  used  in  building  the  mill  at  Kilcarberj^  in  1820. 

Kilcowanmore  is  better  known  as  Ballybrennan.  The  old 
church  is  almost  completely  gone,  but  there  is  a large  cemetery  in 
which  are  many  interesting  monuments.  It  is  still  used  for 
burials.  Not  far  off  is  St.  Cuan's  Well,  at  which  an  annual 
“ pattern”  was  held  on  February  3rd — the  feast  of  St.  Cuan — 
until  the  year  1812.  There  is  a third  holy  well  at  Barmoney. 

Antiquarians  will  be  interested  in  a splendid  Dolmen  at 
Ballybrittas,  near  Bree,  and  an  imperfect  one  at  Galbally — the 
last  resting  places  of  two  forgotten  Irish  chieftains. 

Ballyhogue  (Ballysneoge)  is  now  known  as  Bellevue,  a name 
given  it  by  George  Ogle  in  the  last  decade  of  the  i8th  century. 

The  property  was  acquiredby  the  Cliffe  family  in  1815,  and  a 
beautiful  private  chapel — designed  by  Pugin— was  added  to  the 
house  in  1858-9,  the  nave  being  forty  feet  by  eighteen,  and  the 
chancel  sixteen  feet  by  sixteen.*  There  were  formerly  two  fairs 
yearly  at  Birchfield  (Ballyhogue)  patented  by  Robert  Birch  in  1763. 

Macmine  Castle  (an  ancient  stronghold  of  the  Fitz-Henrys) 
w^as  restored  in  the  last  century  and  modernised  by  the  Richards 
family.  The  hill  of  Bree  is  said  to  have  been  a former  habitat  of 
Druids— w'here  they  performed  their  “ mystic  rites  sublime." 

*The  whole  of  the  Cliffe  family — nine  in  number — became  Catholics  in  1856. 


20 


Parish  of  Cloughbawn 


Cloughbawn  (“  white  stone-castle”)  as  a parish  represents  the  old 
parishes  of  Killegny  and  Clonleigh  with  the  chapelry  of  Chapel. 
In  the  j8th  century  Killegny  was  a very  large  district,  and  included 
Cloughbawn,  Clonleigh,  Rathnure,  Killann,  Chapel,  and 
Templeudigan,  but,  in  1852,  the  Bishop  decided  to  divide  it,  and 
hence  from  Januar}’’  ist,  1853,  two  parishes  were  formed,  namely, 
Cloughbawn  and  Rathnure — Cloughbawn  comprising  Killegny 
and  Poulpeasty. 

Killegny  has  a very  ancient  history,  and  from  the  13th 
century  was  a valuable  prebend  and  canonry  in  the  Chapter 
of  Ferns,  to  which  the  church  of  Coolstuff  was  attached.  The 
name  is  variously  written  Killanky,  Killanchy,  Killanegy,  etc., 
and  is  said  to  be  derived  from  Cill  Onchu,  the  Church  of  St. 
Onchu,  a friend  of  St.  Aedan,  whose  feast  is  celebrated  on  July 
gth.  It  is  only  right  to  add  that  several  great  Irish  scholars 
equate  the  place-name  as  signifying  “ the  church  of  the  ivy.” 
The  last  Catholic  prebendary  under  the  old  regime  was  Very 
Rev.  Robert  (Canon)  Cheevers,  who  died  in  1570. 

Bishop  Caulfield,  in  1801,  returned  the  parish  of  “Temple- 
udigan ” as  valued  at  £'95  a year,  but  it  had  to  support  one 
curate.  The  present  Registers  go  back  to  1816. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

From  1678  to  1710  Father  Aedan  Redmond  was  Pastor  of 
the  vast  district  covered  by  the  parishes  of  “ Old  Ross,  Chapel, 
Killegny,  Templeudigan,  and  Rossdroit.”  He  resided  at 
Clonleigh,  and  was  aged  55  in  1704. 

There  is  a lacuna  in  the  records  until  1745,  when  Rev.  Martin 
Redmond  appears  as  P.P.  of  Killann.  In  1753  Bishop  Sweetman 


21 


made  a Visitation  of  the  district,  and  describes  Father  Redmond 
as  a fine  Irish  preacher.  His  Mass  House  was  at  Garrane.  F ather 
Redmond  died  in  1770. 

Rev.  Henry  O’Keeffe  was  P.P.  of  Killann  from  1770  till  his 
death  on  February  20th,  1790. 

Rev.  Michael  Ennis  had  a short  pastorate,  namel5%  from 
1790  to  1793.  In  the  latter  year,  on  June  20th,  he  was  transferred 
to  Castlebridge. 

Rev.  Thomas  Rogers  was  appointed  P.P.  of  “ Killegny  ” in 
1793,  and  had  a troubled  pastorate  of  22  years.  He  is  highly 
praised  by  Gordon  (who  was  Rector  of  Killegny)  in  his  History 
of  the  ’98  period.  His  chapel  at  Bally mackes)'’  was  burned,  in 
September,  1800.  He  died  in  December,  1815. 

Very  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon)  Furlong  was  appointed  P.P.  in 
January,  1816,  and  in  the  Register  he  describes  himself  as  “ Pastor 
of  the  united  parishes  of  Killegny,  Chapel,  Killann,  and 
Templeudigan  ” His  curates  in  1819  were  Rev.  Thomas  Doyle 
and  Rev.  Edward  Doyle.  The  former  died  in  1824,  and  was 
replaced  by  Rev.  Denis  flore,  while  the  latter  was  promoted  to 
the  pastorate  of  Monageer,  in  1S38.  Canon  Furlong  was  a 
famous  politician,  and  was  known  as  “ King  of  the  Bantry.”  He 
championed  the  rights  of  his  flock  on  the  White  Mountains 
against  the  Kavanaghs.  The  Bantr}^  Commons  are  in  the 
parishes  of  Killann  and  Templeudigan,  and  extend  to  St.  Mullins, 
totalling  4,254  acres.  Canon  Furlong  was  also  a most  zealous 
pastor,  and  he  built  the  present  palatial  presbytery  at 
Cloughbawn.  He  died  on  September  7th,  1852. 

After  some  months  vacancj'  Bishop  Murphy  decided  to 
divide  the  parish  of  Killegny,  and  on  January  2nd,  1833,  Rev. 
Abraham  Brownrigg,  C.C.  of  Boolevogue,  was  appointed  first 
P.P.  of  Cloughbawn  and  Poulpeast}^  Father  Brownrigg  at  once 
undertook  the  building  of  a new  parish  church  (replacing  the 
chapel  which  had  been  erected  in  1799),  and  the  first  stone  was 
laid  by  Bishop  Furlong  (who  also  preached  on  the  occasion)  on 
May  24th,  1858.  Father  Brownrigg’s  death  occurred  a }.  ear  later, 
on  August  22nd,  1859,  in  the  54th  year  of  his  age. 

Rev.  Thomas  Hore,  who  had  laboured  at  Annacurra  and  at 
Cairn  (where  he  built  the  present  church)  was  appointed  P.P.  of 
Cloughbawn  on  August  28th,  1859  (.see  An'nacurr.a).  He 


22 


completed  the  church  of  Cloughbawn,  and  died  on  June  14th, 
1864. 

Rev.  John  Doyle  was  P.P.  from  July  26th,  1864,  till  his  death 
on  April  gth,  1869. 

Rev.  John  M.  Furlong,  C.C.  of  Litter  since  1862,  laboured  as 
P.P.  of  Cloughbawn,  from  June,  1S69,  to  January',  1881,  when  he 
was  transferred  to  Cushenstown. 

Rev.  John  Cleary,  C.C.  of  Litter  since  1871,  was  P.P.  from 
February,  1881  to  1903,  when  he  resigned  owing  to  ill  health.  He 
died  on  February  3rd,  1908. 

Rev.  Sylvester  Cloney  (C.C.  of  Ferns  since  1894),  was 
appointed  Adm.  of  Cloughbawn  on  November  3rd,  1903,  and  was 
made  P.P.  in  June,  1908,  but  died  within  three  years,  on  February 
7th,  1911. 

Rev,  Paul  Kehoe  (C.C.  of  Mulrankin  since  1895),  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  i\Iarch  gth,  1911.  Owing  to  ill  health  he  went 
on  a lengthened  holiday  to  New  Zealand  early  in  1914. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

There  are  ruined  churches  with  graveyards  at  Killegny  and 
at  Chapel.  Near  the  latter  is  a holy  well,  at  which  a “pattern” 
was  formerly  held  on  June  nth.  It  may  be  noted,  however,  that 
Chapel  (dedicated  to  St.  Clement)  was  never  a distinct  parish  : 
it  was  (as  the  name  implies)  a chapel  of  ease  to  Killegny,  and 
was,  together  with  Clonleigh,  an  appropriation  of  Dunbrod}' 
Abbey.  O’Donovan  gives  Killegny  as  probably  equivalent  to 
cm  Eigneach,  the  church  of  St.  Eigneach  whose  feast  was 
celebrated  on  April  24th,  but  this  is  unlikely,  for  manj'^  reasons. 
About  a quarter  of  a mile  from  Killegny,  in  the  townland  of 
Tominearl}',  there  is  a holy  well  dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin. 

The  old  castle  of  Bealaboro  (formerly  belonging  to  the 
Butlers)  is  in  the  demesne  of  Lord  Carew  at  Castleboro’.  There 
is  also  a fine  moat  at  Killegny.  The  castle  of  Monart  has 
completely  disappeared. 

There  is  a holy  well  called  Toher  Padraic  in  the  townland  of 
Clonroche,  dedicated  to  the  Apostle  of  Ireland. 


23 


Parish  of  Davidstown 


Davidstown  as  a separate  parish  is  of  comparativel}'^  recent 
foundation,  and  only  dates  from  1791 — having  been  previously 
included  in  Bree  (see  Bree).  It  represents  the  older  parishes  of 
Rossdroit,  Templescoby  and  portions  of  St.John’s  and  Clonmore. 
The  cemeterj’-  of  Rossdroit  gives  an  indication  of  the  site  of  the 
old  parish  church  (in  the  townland  of  INIoneytucker)  which  was 
in  the  14th  century  appropriated  to  the  nuns  of  Timolinbeg,  Co. 
Kildare,  and  was  taken  over  by  the  Protestants  in  1570.  Not  a 
trace  is  left  of  Templescoby  church,  which  was  also  an  appro- 
priation of  the  nuns  of  Timolinbeg,  and  which  was  united  to 
Rossdroit  in  the  i6th  century. 

In  1801  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  as  valued  at 
£SO  yearl}’,  with  no  curate.  The  Baptismal  Register  begins  in 
1805,  and  the  Marriage  Register,  in  1828.  In  1880  Courtnacuddy 
was  made  a resident  curac^^  with  Father  Edward  Brennan  as 
C.C. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  James  Doyle,  a native  of  Adamstown,  was  appointed 
first  P.P.  of  Davidstown — as  a separate  parish—in  1791,  and  he 
had  to  endure  much  during  the  Insurrection  of  ’98.  His  chapel 
at  Courtnacuddy  was  burned  on  August  13th,  1801— being  the 
last  act  of  vandalism  by  the  ascendancy  faction.  Father  Doyle 
lived  at  Coolamurry,  and  died  there  on  October  31st,  1825,  aged 
73.  He  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Courthoyle,  where  there  is 
a monument  to  his  memory. 

Very  Rev.  Francis  (Canon)  Prendergast,  who  had  been  C.C. 
since  1815,  was  appointed  Pastor  on  November  30th,  1825,  and 
laboured  for  thirty-five  years.  He  built  the  present  church  of 


24 


Davidstown,  in  1856,  and  was  made  a Canon  of  Ferns  in  the 
following  year.  He  also  built  a new  church  at  Courtnacuddy  in 
1859.  His  death  took  place  on  September  15th,  i860,  aged  78. 

Very  Rev.  Peter  (Canon)  Barry,  C.C.  of  Ballymore  since 
1851,  was  made  P.P.  in  October,  i860,  and  had  a pastorate  of 
twenty-five  years.  He  died  on  October  gth,  1885. 

Rev.  James  Aylward  (C.C.  of  New  Ross  from  September, 
1864,  to  1885)  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  in  October,  1885, 
and  worked  zealously  for  seven  years.  His  death  took  place  on 
October  6th,  1892. 

Rev.  James  Keating  (C.C.  of  Gorey  since  1883)  was  appointed 
P.P.  in  November,  1892,  but  died  after  a short  pastorate  on  March 
nth,  1898. 

Very  Rev.  Patrick  (Canon)  O’Connor  (Professor  in  St.  Peter's 
College,  Wexford,  from  1875-1886  ; C.C.  of  Enniscorthy  Cathedral 
from  1886  to  1896 ; and  Adm.  from  1896  to  1898)  was  appointed 
P.P.  on  April  14th,  1898,  and  is  the  present  Pastor. 


ST.  JOHN’S  PRIORY. 

The  Priory  of  St.  John’s  for  Austin  Canons  of  St.  Victor  was 
founded  in  1230  by  Gerald  Prendergast,  and  was  made  a cell  to 
the  Abbey  of  St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury  in  Dublin.  It  was  well 
endowed,  and  had  the  churches  of  Templeshannon,  Kilbride,  and 
Ballyhuskard.  The  community,  by  the  terms  of  the  Charter, 
was  to  consist  of  a Prior  and  four  brethren.  Quite  uneventfull}^ 
these  canons  lived  till  the  Dissolution,  and  we  meet  but  scant 
references  to  them  till  1541,  when  the  house  and  lands  (three 
hundred  and  sixty  acres)  were  leased  successively  to  John 
Travers,  Lord  Mountgarret,  and  Sir  Nicholas  White.  The 
Gamble  family  held  it  from  1715  to  1778,  followed  by  the  Hills. 
In  1897  the  property  was  purchased  by  Edward  Kavanagh.  Some 
of  the  old  quoins  and  arches  are  incorporated  in  the  present 
mansion  house  of  St.  John’s,  built  in  1810.  In  addition  to  the 
advantages  of  splendid  pasture  lands  and  fishery,  the  situation 
was  delightful,  commanding  one  of  the  most  beautiful  reaches 
on  the  river  Slaney. 


25 


ANTIQUITIES. 

Not  a vestige  remains  of  the  ancient  church  of  St.  John's,  save 
a fragment  of  the  west  end  of  the  south  side- wall  and  the  north- 
west corner.  O’Donovan  assumes  that  the  building  was 
originally  thirty  feet  by  twenty-two  feet.  The  churchyard,  called 
“ the  Corrig,”  was  a favourite  place  for  local  burials  till  tqoo, 
when  it  was  closed.  There  is  a holy  well  adjoining  it,  at  which 
“patterns”  were  formerly  held  on  St.  John’s  Day,  June  24lh. 
None  of  the  tombs  are  of  any  particular  interest.  The  parish  of 
St.  John’s  consists  of  2,206  acres.  Near  the  Corrig  is  the  Ringwood 
once  a famous  resort  for  highwaymen.  John’s  Mills — established 
in  1858  by  Samuel  and  A.  G.  Davis —occupy  portion  of  the 
monastic  property.  The  bridge  of  St  John’s  separates  Ennis- 
corthy  from  the  parish  of  Davidstown. 


26 


Parish  of  Ferns. 


Ferns  is  the  mother  church  of  the  diocese,  founded  by  St.  Aedan, 
and  for  centuries  was  known  as  Fearna-mor-Moedhoc,  the  great 
plain  of  the  alder  trees  of  St.  Aedan  (Moedhoc).  In  memory  of 
the  victory  of  Dunboyke,  in  598,  Brandubh,  King  of  Leinster, 
presented  the  district  to  St.  Aedan,  and  Ferns  has  ever  since  been 
the  episcopal  See,  although  the  sedes  episcopalis  has  been 
transferred  at  various  periods  to  Wexford,  New  Ross,  and 
Enniscorthy.  The  city  of  Ferns  was  several  times  plundered  and 
burned  by  the  Scandinavians  in  the  9th  century,  but  was  in  each 
case  rebuilt.  Evidently  the  old  Cathedral  was  of  stone,  as,  under 
date  of  787,  there  is  a record  of  the  death  of  Cronan  “ of  the  stone 
church  of  Ferns.”  About  the  year  1058  Murchadh  O’Lynam, 
Bishop  of  Ferns,  built  the  beautiful  Hiberno-Romanesque  church 
of  St.  Peter’s,  now  in  ruins  (save  the  chancel  arch  and  window 
on  the  south)  in  the  present  Rectory  lawn. 

In  1 154,  Dermot  MacMurrough  burned  the  city  and  monastery, 
but,  in  1160,  he  refounded  the  monastery  as  an  Abbey — dedicated 
to  the  Blessed  Virgin — for  Canons  Regular  of  St.  Augustine.  It 
is  probable  that  King  Dermot  also  founded  the  present  Cathedral 
at  Ferns,  in  1166,  and  the  style  of  architecture  of  the  original 
structure  seems  to  verify  the  conjecture,  as  it  certain!}'  dates  from 
the  third  quarter  of  the  12th  century.  The  Leinster  monarch 
died  “ after  the  victory  of  unction  and  penance,”  in  1171,  although 
the  Four  Masters  and  others  tell  a different  tale.  It  is  preferable 
to  believe  the  statement  in  the  Book  of  Leinster — that  Dermot 
died  fortified  by  the  all  the  rites  of  the  Church — “ in  thefiist  year 


27 


of  his  age,”  and  he  was  buried,  at  his  own  request,  “ near  the 
shrines  of  St.  Moedhoc  and  St.  Moling.”  The  exact  burial  place 
is  disputed,  as  some  contend  that  the  site  was  in  the  cemetery, 
the  spot  being  marked  by  the  broken  shaft  of  a cross  with  Celtic 
interlaced  ornamentation.  More  probably  the  penitent  King 
was  interred,  according  to  his  express  wishes,  in  the  Cathedral. 
From  excavations  made  in  1901-03  it  is  evident  that  the 
Cathedral  was  originally  180  feet  in  length.  The  double  pi.sc:inae 
and  the  statue  of  St.  Aedan  bear  evidence  of  the  artistic  skill  of 
the  13th  century,  but  the  “ restorations”  of  1577,  of  1672,  of  1761, 
and  of  1816  played  sad  havoc  with  the  fabric.  As  a matter  of 
fact  the  present  structure  is  merely  the  centre  aisle  of  the  nave 
of  the  original  Cathedral. 

In  the  first  decade  of  the  15th  century  Ferns  as  a city  declined 
considerably,  and,  in  1408,  Bishop  Barret  transferred  the  ;>edes 
episcopalis  to  New  Ross.  Alexander  Devereux,  Bishop  of  Ferns, 
died  in  1566,  and  with  him  ended  the  old  Catholic  regime. 
Feagh  MacHugh  O’Byrne  burned  the  Cathedral  in  1575,  sooner 
than  see  it  desecrated  by  the  Protestants. 

In  1600  the  Sees  of  Ferns  andLeighlin  were  united  under  the 
Protestant  arrangement,  but  Ferns  has  always  continued  a 
separate  See  in  the  Catholic  arrangement.  Bishop  Roche,  in 
1632,  re-organised  the  Chapter  of  Ferns,  and  transferred  the  sedes 
episcopalis  to  Wexford.  After  the  surrender  of  the  town  and 
castle  to  Cromwell,  on  September  i8th,  1649,  Ferns  lapsed  to  the 
status  of  an  “ inconsiderable  village.” 

Bigotry  became  rampant  in  F erns  during  the  second  half  of  the 
17th  century  and  the  scattered  Catholics  were  sorely  persecuted. 
In  1701,  owing  to  the  intolerance  of  Rickard  Donovan,  the  new 
landlord  of  the  district,  no  Catholic  priest  was  allowed  to  live  in 
the  town,  and  not  even  a thatched  chapel  was  permitted  within 
a radius  of  two  miles.  At  this  epoch — and  for  some  time  pre- 
viously— the  Mass-station  was  at  Cror}',  about  two  miles  outside 
the  town.  The  flagstone  on  which  Mass  was  celebrated  is  still 
pointed  out  on  Mr.  Aidan  Doyle’s  farm.  In  1740  an  old  barn  was 
acquired  as  a Mass-station ; its  site  is  about  half  a mile  outside 
Ferns,  and  is  called  the  “ Chapel  Field.” 

In  1801  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  as  worth  19  a 
year.  The  parish  Registers  go  back  to  the  year  1819,  and  were 
commenced  by  Rev.  William  O’Neill,  P.P. 


28 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  J.  Doyle  laboured  as  Pastor  of  the  district  from  1670  to 
1690.  It  is  said  that  he  was  succeeded  by  a namesake,  but  it  is 
not  unlikely  that  it  was  the  same  pastor.  Curiously  enough,  no 
parish  priest  is  registered  for  Ferns  in  the  Register  for  1704. 

Rev.  John  Verdon,  D.D.,  a nephew  of  Bishop  Verdon,  was 
P.P.  from  1720  to  1738.  He  worked  in  disguise  as  a gardener  in 
the  family  of  MacParson,  of  the  Bay,  a notorious  bigot  and 
“priest  hunter.”  In  the  whirlgig  of  Time,  MacParson’s  home- 
stead is  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Kelly,  a Catholic  farmer,  whose 
son  is  a priest  of  the  diocese  of  f'erns. 

• Rev.  C.  Lovelock  laboured  as  P.P.  from  1738  to  1741,  but  no 
details  of  his  pastorate  have  come  down. 

Rev.  Michael  Connon  was  P.P.  from  1742  to  1762.  According 
to  Bishop  Sweetman's  notes,  this  devoted  pastor  had  been  a 
'schoolmaster,  and  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  became  a priest, 
subsequently  studying  abroad  for  four  years.  On  the  death  of 
Bishop  O’Callaghan  (1744)  he  had  some  doubts  as  to  the  validity 
of  his  collation  to  the  parish  of  Ferns,  but  Bishop  Sweetman,  in 
1746,  ratified  his  appointment.  Father  Connon  had  been  charged 
with  enlisting  soldiers  for  the  Pretender,  but  the  charge  was 
proved  without  foundation,  in  1751. 

Very  Rev.  Andrew  Cassin,  D.D.,  S.J.,  was  P.P.  from  1762  to 
1786,  and  was  also  Vicar  General.  He  resided  at  Effernogue  in 
the  house  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Sykes.  His  armchair  is  still 
preserved  by  Mr.  Foley.  Dr.  Cassin  was  highly  esteemed  by 
Bishop  Sweetman.  His  thatched  chapel  was  at  Newtown,  about 
half  a mile  from  Ferns.  He  died  on  July  i6th,  1786,  aged  68,  and 
was  the  last  Jesuit  that  laboured  as  a priest  in  the  diocese  of 
Ferns. 

Rev.  Edward  Redmond,  nephew  to  Rev.  Dr.  Cassin,  was 
appointed  P.P.  in  1786,  having  been  curate  in  Ferns  since  1777. 
He  was  generally  known  as  “ Father  Ned,”  and,  as  a student  in 
France,  he  saved  the  life  of  the  great  Napoleon.  In  November, 
1789,  he  was  given  a curate.  Rev.  Myles  O’Connor,  who  laboured 
till  1805.  Ballyduff  chapel  was  burned  by  the  Yeomen  on 
October  19th,  1798,  as  was  also  the  chapel  of  Clologue,  a week 
later.  Ferns  church  (a  small  thatched  edifice)  shared  the  same 
fate  on  November  i8th.  Father  Redmond  died  on  February 


29 


nth,  i8ig,  and  was  interred  in  the  grave  of  his  uncle.  On  the 
tomb,  in  the  cemetery,  is  the  following  inscription 

Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 


Beneath  are  deposited  the  remains  of  the 
Reverend  Andrew  Cassin,  D.D., 
of  the  Society  of  Jesus, 

Parish  Priest  of  Ferns 
and  Vicar  General  of  this  Diocese. 

He  was  appointed  Pastor  of  Ferns  in  1762 
and  died  July  i6th,  1786,  in  the 
68th  year  of  his  age. 

Also,  the  remains  of  his  nephew, 
the  Reverend  Edward  Redmond, 
who  had  been  his  curate  from  the  year  1777, 
and  was  his  successor  from  the  year  1786. 

He  died  February  nth,  1819,  aged  79  years. 
I'his  tomb  was  erected  in  1819  by 
the  Parishioners  of  Ferns,  Kilbride,  and  Kilcomb, 
as  a tribute  of  respect  to  these  venerated  priests. 


Very  Rev.  William  (Canon)  O'Neill,  Adm.  of  Enniscorthy 
Cathedral  since  1805,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  May  12th,  1819,  with 
Rev.  Nicholas  Cooney  and  Rev.  James  Walsh,  jun.,  as  curates. 
Not  long  afterwards  Father  O’Neill  determined  to  erect  a 
suitable  parochial  church  in  the  town  of  Ferns,  but  the  opposition 
of  the  ascendancy  party  was  so  great  that  the  project  did  not 
materialise  till  1824,  and  the  church  was  informally  opened  in 
1826,  Father  Cooney,  C.C.,  died  on  March  14th,  1826,  and  was 
replaced  by  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Herron,  who,  on  May  ist, 
1829,  went  to  Newfoundland  as  a missionary.*  Father 
O’Neill  was  admitted  into  the  Chapter  as  Prebendary  of 
Taghmon,  in  1830,  and  in  October,  1839,  he  had  the  happiness  of 
seeing  the  new  church  solemnly  dedicated  by  Bishop  Keating — 
on  which  occasion  Rev.  Dr.  Sinnott,  of  St.  Peter’s  College, 


^Father  Herron  died  on  August  28th,  1861,  and  was  buried  in  Tomhaggard. 


30 


Wexford,  delivered  a magnificent  discourse.  Canon  O’Neill 
died,  “ bonorum  operum  plenus,”  on  July  13th,  1840,  and  was 
buried  in  the  parochial  church. 

Very  Rev.  James  (Canon)  Roche,  Adm.  of  Enniscorthy  since 
1832,  and  Canon  of  Ferns  since  1836,  was  appointed  P.P.  in 
September,  1840,  and  laboured  earnestly  till  Way,  1850,  when  he 
was  transferred  to  Wexford.  During  his  pastorate  he  added  the 
spire  to  Ferns  church,  in  1843.  account  of  his  subsequent 

labours  see  the  Parish  of  Wexford. 

Rev.  Bernard  E.  Mayler,  C.C.  of  Ferns  from  1833  to  1850,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  September  25th,  1830,  and  laboured  for  full 
thirty  years.  Me  erected  the  present  church  of  Ballyduff,  in  1873, 
and  also  built  a commodious  school.  P'ather  Mayler  died  on 
October  18th,  1880,  and  was  buried  in  the  parochial  church. 

Rev.  Francis  Marshall  was  transferred  from  Craanford  to  Ferns 
on  November  15th,  1880.  He  built  the  present  parochial  house 
and  also  erected  National  schools  in  the  town.  Father  Marshall 
died  on  July  24th,  i8gi. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Parker  was  transferred  from  Glynn 
to  Ferns  in  September,  1891.  The  high  altar  and  the  prettj' 
stained-glass  windows  in  the  parochial  church  were  due  to 
Canon  Parker,  who  died  on  August  8th,  1900, 

Very  Rev.  Denis  (Canon)  O’Connor,  P.P.  of  Litter  from  1889 
to  1900,  was  transferred  to  Ferns  on  September  2nd,  1900,  but  onh' 
lived  a year  as  P.P.  of  Fern.s.  His  death  occurred  on  October 
i6th,  1901. 

The  Venerable  John  (Archdeacon)  Doyle  was  transferred 
from  Glynn  on  November  4th,  igor,  and  is  the  present  pastor. 
Canon  Doyle  erected  the  side  altars,  and  provided  an  organ,  a 
turret  clock,  and  a large  bell,  for  the  parish  church,  also  putting 
down  a marble  Terazzo  floor.  Moreover,  he  built  two  new 
schools  at  Clologue  and  Tombrack,  in  1909,  and  he  re-organised 
the  Ferns  schools  in  1913,  bringing  them  up  to  modern  require- 
ments. He  enclosed  the  cemetery  in  Ballyduff,  in  1904,  and  he 
caused  to  be  erected  the  tower,  and  spire,  with  bell,  of  Ballyduff 
church,  in  1912.  In  November,  1914,  Canon  Doyle  was  made 
Archdeacon  of  Ferns,  in  succession  to  the  late  Archdeacon  Whitty. 

ANTIQUITIES. 

The  ancient  Well  of  St.  Mogue  adjoins  the  remains  of  the 
ancient  Abbey  of  St.  Mary’s.  It  was  arched  over  in  1847  during 

31 


the  famine  period,  and  the  roofing  is  stone  capped,  over  which 
are  some  sculptured  stones  taken  from  Clone  church ; the  key- 
stone belonged  to  one  of  the  arches  of  Ferns  Cathedral.  In  the 
wall  of  the  roadway  from  Ferns  to  Gorey  are  two  fine  Celtic 
crosses,  nearly  opposite  St.  Mogue’s  Well.  These  crosses  were 
taken  from  the  old  cemetery— the  largest  in  Ireland— and  their 
pediments  are  in  the  grounds  of  the  Protestant  Cathedral.  It  is 
due  to  the  genuine  archaeological  instincts  of  the  present  Rector, 
Very  Rev.  Dean  Gibson,  that  the  recent  restoration  of  St.  Aedan’s 
Cathedral  has  been  so  successfully  carried  out  (1901-03). 

Allusion  has  previously  been  made  to  the  remains  of  St. 
Peter’s  church,  built  in  the  Hiberno-Romanesque  style,  now  in 
the  Rectory  lawn.  Du  Noyer  writes  of  the  beautiful  window  in 
the  south  wall : — “ It  strikes  me  that  this  window  is  the  re- 
modelling and  lengthening  of  another  window.  The  pointed 
arch  of  the  exterior  does  not  agree  with  the  semi-circular  form  of 
the  interior  or  its  style  of  ornamentation  ; perhaps  the  ornamental 
stones  were  taken  from  an  older  and  different  church,  and  here 
applied  as  we  see  them.  The  style  of  ornament  is  precisely  that 
of  the  doorway  of  the  old  church  of  Clone,  about  two  miles  south 
of  Ferns.” 

St.  Mary's  Abbey  was  founded  in  1160,  and  the  foundation 
Charter  has  been  printed  by  Dugdale  and  Ware.  It  is  dated 
February  21st,  but  though  the  year  is  not  given  the  date  is  almost 
certainly  1160-1,  inasmuch  as  one  of  the  subscribing  witnesses 
(Malachy  O’Byrne)  was  not  appointed  Bishop  of  Kildare  till 
1160.  In  1398  the  Abbot  of  Ferns  was  outlawed  for  favouring 
Mac  Murrough,  but  was  pardoned  in  1403.  Thomas  O’Druhan 
was  Abbot  from  1438  to  1460 ; Donal  O’Murphy  was  Abbot  in 
1460,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Dermot  O’Druhan  in  1477  ; by 
Owen  Doyle  in  1488 ; and  by  William  Lacy  in  1507.  The  last 
Abbot  was  William  Doyle,  and  the  Abbey  was  dissolved  on 
April  7th,  1539.  Among  the  possessions  were  : — Ballymore, 
Mangan,  Ballintore,  Kilcaysan  (Clologue),  Raheen,  Ballymotey, 
Lady’s  Island,  Kilbride,  Coolnahorna,  with  the  Rectory  of 
Leskinfere,  and  the  tithes  of  Lady’s  Island.  In  1 569  the  Abbey 
and  its  possessions  were  granted  to  Thomas  Masterson,  and  after 
this  date  both  the  Abbey  and  the  Cathedral  were  allowed  to 
decay.  An  order  was  made  for  the  restoration  of  the  latter  in 
i6ii,but  the  Protestant  Bishop  (Thomas  Ram)  reported,  in  1612, 


32 


that  the  Dean  and  Chapter  were  too  poor  to  undertake  such  a 
task,  and  that  the  aisle  was  used  for  Divine  Service.  The  present 
remains  of  the  Abbey  church  are  the  chancel,  with  five  lancet 
windows,  and  a tower  about  seventy  feet  high,  square  at  the 
base  and  round  to  the  top.  In  1835,  Mr.  Butler  Br5’^an  lined  the 
tower  with  brick,  and  sunk  a ditch  around  it.  The  ruins  form  a 
passage  from  the  Cathedral  grounds  to  those  of  Captain  Irwin, 
and  lie  between  St.  Peter’s  church  and  the  Cathedral  cemetery. 

Although  a castle  was  built  by  Dermot  Mac  Murrough  at 
Ferns,  yet  the  present  structure  was  not  commenced  till  1199  by 
William  Marshall  the  elder,  who  died  in  1219,  and  was  completed 
in  1225  by  William  Marshall  the  younger.  In  1309  Nicholas  de 
Sandford,  Dean  of  Ferns,  was  constable  of  the  castle.  In  1331 
the  Irish  burned  the  castle,  but  it  was  soon  after  rebuilt,  and 
several  Bishops  of  Ferns  were  custodians  of  it  from  1349  to  1400. 
Art  Mac  Murrough  held  it  from  1402  till  1417,  and  it  remained  in 
the  hands  of  the  Kavanaghs  till  1550.  In  1570  Thomas  Masterson 
was  constable,  and  in  1583  he  was  granted  the  Castle  and  Manor 
and  Abbey  of  Ferns.  Edmund  Masterson  joined  the  Confederates 
and  became  a Catholic  in  1642,  and  so  his  Ferns  property  was 
confiscated  in  1650.  In  1694  it  passed  to  Rickard  Donovan,  whose 
descendants  still  possess  it.  The  beautiful  stone-groined  chapel 
of  the  castle  was  converted  into  an  Orange  Lodge  by  Richard 
Donovan,  in  1790.  Originally  the  castle  was  a square  flanked  by 
four  towers,  the  walls  of  which  are  about  eight  feet  thick.  The 
north  wall  was  about  seventy-five  feet  high.  At  length  vandalism 
and  the  gnawing  tooth  of  Time  has  accomplished  the  practical 
destruction  of  this  splendid  castle. 

There  are  ruins  of  a church,  dedicated  to  St.  Columba,  at 
Kilcomb,  the  walls  of  which,  to  the  height  of  five  feet,  remain. 
Originally  the  length  was  about  fifty  feet  by  twenty  in  breadth. 
This  church  ceased  to  be  used  after  the  year  1560.  It  is  north  of 
the  townland  of  Bally  duff,  not  far  from  Sliabh  buidhe.  The 
pattern  day  was  June  9th. 

Ruins  of  churches  also  remain  in  Ballyregan  (Kilbride), 
Clologue,  Ballymore,  and  Kilkeasey. 


33 


D 


Parish  of  Kilrush 


Kilrush  (the  church  of  the  shrubbery)  gives  its  name  to  a fairly 
extensive  parish,  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  parishes  of 
Tomacork  (Carnew) ; on  the  south  by  Ferns;  on  the  east  by 
Craanford  ; and  on  the  west  by  the  Slaney.  The  original  church, 
which  stood  in  the  townland  of  Ballynebarney,  was  dedicated  to 
St.  Columba  Crossaire,  who  is  also  the  Patron  of  the  church 
of  Kilmeashal,  near  Newtownbarry.  However,  the  English  of 
the  13th  century  re-dedicated  the  church  to  St.  Brigid.  In  1416 
Rev.  John  MacAylward  was  Prebendary  of  Kilrush  and  Rector 
of  St.  Brigid’s,  Kilrush. 

The  parish  includes  Ballycarney,  Clohamon,  and  half  of 
Carnew,  or  Askamore.  Inasmuch  as  Lord  Baltimore,  who  owned 
2,000  acres  in  Kilrush  parish,  in  1624,  was  a Catholic,  faithful 
pastors  were  enabled  to  exercise  their  ministrations  in  the  district 
without  molestation  from  1625  to  1650. 

In  1801  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  as  valued  at  £^o 
a year,  and  as  having  no  curate.  The  old  Registers  have 
disappeared,  and  the  present  Registers  begin  with  the  year  1854. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  John  Kelly  was  P.P.  from  1686  to  1718.  He  registered 
himself  as  P.P.  of  Kilrush  in  1704,  and  was  then  aged  49,  residing 
at  Munfin.  He  had  been  ordained  at  Poictiers  in  1680,  and  is 
supposed  to  have  been  a Jesuit. 

Rev.  Michael  Kennedy  was  P.P.  circa  1750,  but  no  particulars 
of  him  have  been  handed  down. 

Rev.  Aedan  Murphy  laboured  as  P.P.  from  1770  till  his  death 
on  April  29th,  1802.  His  curate.  Father  P.  Doyle,  died  in  1790 
and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Kavanagh  (1790-1793)  and 
Rev.  Edward  Synnott  (1793-1797).  Father  Murphy  shared  in  the 


34 


awful  misery  consequent  on  the  Insurrection  of  98,  and  his 
chapels  of  Kilrush  and  of  Munfin  were  burned  by  the  Yeomanry 
on  March  15th  and  on  June  9th,  1799,  respectively. 

Rev.  Mark  Barry,  who  had  been  C.C.  of  the  parish  since  1796, 
was  appointed  P.P.  in  May,  1802.  He  rebuilt  the  parochial 
church  in  1802-3.  Iri  1815  he  was  transferred  to  Tagoat.  His 
curate,  Rev.  Thomas  Furlong,  died  in  1813,  and  was  replaced  by 
Rev.  John  Carroll  (1813-1819). 

Rev.  John  French  was  P.P.  for  over  twenty-seven  years.  He 
commenced  to  build  the  present  church  in  1842,  but  died  on 
March  6th,  1843.  A second  curate  was  provided  in  1836  in  the 
person  of  Rev.  James  Parle,  who  was  sent  to  Ferns,  in  1840,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Patrick  Prendergast. 

Very  Rev.  James  (Canon)  French,  C.C.  of  the  parish  from 
February,  1823,  was  appointed  to  succeed  his  brother  as  P.P.  in 
March,  1843,  laboured  zealously  till  his  death  on  February 
23rd,  1854.  He  completed  the  present  church. 

Rev.  James  Fanning,  C.C.  of  New  Ross,  was  sent  as  P.P.  of 
Kilrush  on  June  3rd,  1854,  and  laboured  till  his  death  on 
February  23rd,  1870.  His  curate.  Rev.  Patrick  Prendergast,  died 
at  Wexford,  on  December  i8th,  1863. 

Rev,  Andrew  Kehoe,  C.C.  of  Blackwater  since  1862,  was 
made  P.P.  in  April,  1870.  He  got  into  ill-health  in  1876,  and 
died  on  May  15th,  1879,  aged  62. 

Rev.  Sylvester  Cloney,  C.C.  of  Gorey,  w'as  appointed  Adm. 
of  Kilrush  in  October,  1876,  and  became  P.P.  on  June  7th,  1879. 
He  was  transferred  to  Castlebridge,  in  February,  1891. 

Rev.  Patrick  Darcy,  C.C.  of  Mulrankin  since  1879,  'vas 
appointed  P.P.  in  April,  1891,  and  is  the  present  Pastor. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

During  the  last  quarter  of  the  17th  century  a Mass  station 
was  at  Munfin,  where  the  priest  was  under  the  protection  of  the 
celebrated  Sir  Toby  Butler.  The  fine  avenue  at  the  rear  of 
Munfin  House  was  constructed  by  Sir  Toby  Butler  for  the 
convenience  of  the  Catholics  of  Kilrush  parish,  to  ^be  enabled  to 
attend  Mass.  Colonel  Walter  Butler  (M.P.  for  Co.  Wexford  in 


35 


1689)  lived  at  Munfiii  in  1700,  and,  in  his  private  chapel,  he  kept 
a portion  of  the  true  Cross,  brought  from  Rome  for  the  use  of 
Ferns  Cathedral  by  Bishop  French.  This  relic  was  authenticated 
by  Bishop  Verdon  on  June  14th,  1716. 

In  addition  to  the  old  church  of  Kilrush— on  the  site  of  which 
is  the  present  Protestant  church — there  was  also  a church  and 
cemetery  in  the  townland  of  Kiltilly  {Cill  Teidhill).  The  stones 
of  Kiltilly  church  were  carted  away  to  build  houses  and  mend 
the  roads  in  1820,  and  there  is  no  trace  of  even  the  graveyard. 
It  was  dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  as  is  evident  from  the 
adjoining  holy  well  called  Tobermurry  {Tober  Muire),  St.  Mary’s 
Well.  North-west  of  this  townland  is  the  ruinous  Borris  Castle, 
belonging  to  the  Kavanagh  family.  In  1661  James  Buck  was 
granted  a lease  of  Borris,  Kiltilly,  Knocknalour,  Drumderry,  and 
Garryhaston,  which  had  been  granted  by  the  Cromwellians  to 
Captain  Samuel  Jervas. 

Clohamon  Castle  was  partly  burned  in  1579,  and  it  is  now  a 
ruin.  It  stood  on  a projecting  rock  over  the  river  Slaney  and 
was  habitable  as  late  as  1649.  During  the  i8th  century  the  castle 
was  undermined  and  its  site  is  now'  a deep  chasm,  with  a very 
small  piece  of  the  wall  at  the  entrance. 

Ballycarney  Castle  is  an  interesting  ruin,  though  only  one 
wall  is  now  standing,  roofed  by  ivy. 

At  Boolnadrum  is  a ruined  cemetery,  generally  known  as 
“ Shanakyle”  or  old  church.  It  was  evidently  an  old  Celtic 
foundation,  and  contains  part  of  a granite  cross. 

St.  Brigid’s  Well,  adjoining  St.  Brigid’s  churchyard,  is  near 
Askamore. 


36 


Parish  of  Monagcer 


Monageer  parish  represents  the  old  parish  of  Clone,  with  portions 
of  Templeshannon,  Ballyhuskard,  and  Kilcormack.  It  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  the  parish  of  Litter  (from  Mount  Howard  to 
Ballyedmond) ; on  the  south  and  east  by  the  Blackwater  river, 
which  rises  in  Dranagh  and  discharges  itself  into  the  Slaney  at 
White’s  Hill,  near  Enniscorthy  ; and  on  the  west  by  the  Baun 
river,  from  Doran’s  Bridge  to  the  river  Slaney,  and  by  the  Magpie 
river  from  near  Tinnacross  to  Mount  Howard.  The  etymolog}^  of 
Monageer,  according  to  the  late  Dr.  Joyce,  is  Moin  na  gcaer,  that 
is,  the  bog  of  the  berries. 

Clone  (dedicated  to  St.  Aedan)  is  a very  ancient  and  extensive 
parish,  and  was  a valuable  prebend  in  the  days  before  the 
so-called  Reformation.  The  last  Rector  of  Clone  under  the  old 
regime  was  Rev.  Nicholas  Whitty  (the  immediate  successor  of 
Rev.  James  Meyler),  who  held  his  position  from  1566  to  1575. 
Under  the  Cromwellian  rule  the  townlands  of  Toom 
(Toomnemaghter}'),  Raheen,  Ballydawmore,  Ballymurtagh,  and 
other  lands  were  granted  to  Solomon  Richards,  who  erected  the 
demesne  into  the  Manor  of  Solsboro’  (Sol’s  borough).  Catholicity 
was  almost  wiped  out  in  the  parish  of  Clone  between  the  years 
1650- 1685,  but  in  the  first  quarter  of  the  i8th  century  the  Catholics 
again  obtained  a footing,  and  had  a Mass-station  at  Monageer, 
which,  thus,  gave  its  name  to  the  present  parish.  In  1801,  Bishop 
Caulfield  returned  the  parish  of  Monageer  as  worth  £50  a year, 
and  as  then  without  a curate.  The  curacy  was  at  Boolavogue , 
the  church  of  which  is  dedicated  to  St.  Cormack.  The  Parochial 
Registers  go  back  to  the  year  1818. 

The  townlands  (27)  in  Monageer  are  : — Clolourish, 
Clone,  Annafinn,  Ballinabarna,  Ballydawmore,  Ballydonegan, 
Ballymoteybeg,  Ballysimon,  Ballymurtha,  Clondaw,  Craan, 


37 


Craansilla,  Corbally,  Garryduff,  Garryfelim,  Grange,  Kilconnib, 
Kilpierce,  Killabeg,  Knockduff,  Meaugh,  Monageer,  Oulartard, 
Solsborough,  Tinnacross,  Tomsallagh  and  Toom.  In  the 
Boolavogue  district  the  townlands  (i8j  are ; — Ballinamuire, 
Ballytracy,  Barmona,  Carrigeen,  Ballyorley,  Garrybrit,  Glen- 
bawn,  Clone,  the  Harrow,  Kilcoulshy,  Legnaglough,  Mongreen, 
Mount  Howard,  Knockavoca,  Knocknascough,  Mullaunree, 
Raheendarrig  and  Tubbergall. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Hugh  Sheil  was  Pastor  of  this  district  from  1685  to  1715. 
He  registered  himself  in  1704  as  P.P.  of  Kilcormack,  Kilbride, 
Monamoling,  and  Clone — residing  at  Tubbergall. 

Rev.  Edmond  Dempsey  was  P.P.  from  1740  to  1770.  Abel 
Ram,  in  his  Report  to  Government,  dated  March,  1743-4, 
mentions  Father  Dempsey  as  “ Popish  Priest,  residing,  at 
Knockneskagh,  with  his  brother.”  Bishop  Sweetman  made  a 
Visitation  of  the  parish  in  1753  (May  28th),  and  found  the  church 
ornaments  clean,  etc. 

Rev.  Patrick  Cogley  was  P.P.  of  “ Clone  and  Boolavogue" 
from  1780  to  1802.  During  his  pastorate,  the  burning  of  the 
chapel  at  Boolavogue  (of  which  Rev.  John  Murphy  was  curate) 
was  the  prelude  to  the  Insurrection  of  ’98.  The  chapel  was  set 
fire  to  on  May  27th,  1798,  and  Father  John  Murphy — whose 
humble  residence  was  also  burned— took  command  of  the 
Insurgents,  “ representing  to  them,”  as  Hay  wu  ites,  “ that  they  had 
better  die  courageously^  in  the  field  than  be  butchered  in  their 
houses.”  On  July  ist,  1799,  the  Orangemen  burned  the  parochial 
church  of  Monageer,  and  Father  Cogley  had  to  conceal  himself 
for  a time.  On  July  22nd,  1801,  he  made  an  affidavit  rebutting 
some  of  the  lying  statements  of  Sir  Richard  Musgrave.  He  was 
transferred  to  Duncormack  (Rathangan)  in  1802. 

Rev.  Laurence  Comerford,  C.C.  of  Ballymore  since  1789,  was 
appointed  P.P.  of  “ Clone  and  Boolavogue”  in  1802.  He  rebuilt 
the  chapel  of  Boolavogue,  and  laboured  zealously  till  his 
retirement  in  1818,  when  he  went  to  reside  with  his  relatives  in 
Adamstown.  He  survived  for  twenty-nine  years,  and  died  on 


38 


September  5th,  1847,  in  his  95th  year.  His  inscribed  tomb  may 
be  seen  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Newbawn. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Codd,  C.C.  of  Enniscorthy  since  1809,  was 
appointed  P.P.  in  1818.  He  laboured  for  twenty  years,  and  on 
9th  November,  1838,  was  transferred  to  Piercestown.  His  curate. 
Rev.  Francis  Wafer  (1823-1830),  was  transferred  to  Ferns,  and  was 
replaced  by  Rev.  T.  O’Farrell  (1830-1839). 

Very  Rev.  Edward  (Canon)  Doyle,  C.C.  of  Templeudigan 
since  1818,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  9th  November,  1838,  and  had  a 
pastorate  of  twenty-five  years.  He  built  the  present  parochial 
house,  in  1846,  and  he  re-built  the  church  of  Boolavogue  in  1848 
— the  latter  work  being  mainly  due  to  the  exertions  of  Rev. 
Abraham  Brownrigg,  who  was  C.C.  from  1847  to  1853.  The 
new  church  was  consecrated  on  January  20th,  1850,  on  which 
occasion  the  sermon  was  preached  by  the  famous  Rev.  Dr.  Cahill. 
Canon  Doyle  died  on  November  19th,  1863. 

Rev.  Thomas  Connick,  C.C.  of  Boolavogue  since  January, 
1853,  was  P.P.  for  over  twenty-five  years.  He  was  a native  of 
Tintern  and  a strenuous  worker.  Aided  by  his  zealous  curate, 
Rev.  H.  Williams,  he  built  the  present  parochial  church  of 
IMonageer,  in  1870,  and  equipped  good  schools.  On  September 
29th,  1878,  a Celtic  cross  was  unveiled  in  the  cemetery  of 
Boolavogue  to  the  memoryof  the  men  of  ’98.  Father  Connick 
died  on  April  17th,  1889. 

Rev.  James  Ryan,  C.C.  of  Boolavogue  since  1878,  was  P.P. 
from  April,  1889,  till  his  death  on  May  4th,  1908. 

Rev.  James  Long,  C.C.  of  Boolavogue  since  1890,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  June  ist,  1908,  and  is  the  present  pastor.  He 
has  effected  many  improvements,  and  has  recently  (November, 
1914)  built  new  schools. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

Clone  was  one  of  the  oldest  foundations  in  the  diocese  of 
Ferns,  and  is  rightly  ascribed  to  St.  Aedan.  A good  portion  of 
the  ruinous  church  still  survives,  and  the  western  doorway  is 
particularly  fine,  with  its  extraordinary  carvings  on  five 
projecting  stones.  One  of  the  grotesque  heads  on  the  north  side 


39 


of  the  doorway  was  brought  to  St.  Mogue’s  Well  at  Ferns,  and 
still  survives  there.  Du  Noyer  was  of  opinion  that  this  church 
dates  from  the  first  half  of  the  13th  century,  but  it  is  probably 
somewhat  earlier.  Vandalism  has  succeeded  in  doing  consider- 
able damage  to  the  remains  of  the  church,  as  part  of  it  was 
actually  pulled  down  in  recent  times  in  order  to  procure  stones  to 
build  a wall  around  it ! There  is  an  ancient  sundial  in  the  ruins, 
which  is  also  of  the  early  13th  century. 

The  church  of  Tcom  (Toomnemaghtery)  has  disappeared, 
buFthe  spot  whereon  it  was  built  is  known  as  “ graveyard  field.” 
Not  far  off,  in  the  townland  of  Ballydawmore,  is  a holy  well  now 
closed  up. 

Remains  of  churches  may  be  traced  at  Killabeg,  Kildenis, 
Ballyorley,  Kilpierce,  Kilconnib,  and  Kilccilshy.  Holy  wells 
are  still  pointed  out  at  Tubberclumain  and  at  Carrigeen  (Mount 
George)— both  in  the  parish  of  Kilcormack.  Kildenis  old  church 
is  at  Tinnacross,  near  which  the  devoted  pastors  lived  in  the 
Penal  days. 

It  is  to  the  credit  of  the  late  Canon  Ffrench  (Protestant 
Rector  of  Clonegal  for  over  forty  years)  that  he  raised  a fund  to 
save  Clone  church  from  further  vandalism. 

Clolourish  (in  Monageer)  derives  its  name  from  a famous 
“ speaking  stone”  (Cloch-labhrais),  a boulder  which,  according  to 
tradition,  was  entire  till  someone  made  a false  oath  standing 
on  it,  whereupon  it  split  in  two. 

Knockavoca  {Cnoc  an  bhogha)  is  the  place  where,  according 
to  Keating,  the  MacMurrough,  was  inaugurated  as  King  of 
Leinster  by  O’Nolan.  Rev.  Dr.  Hogan,  S.J.,  in  his  Onomasticon, 
inclines  to  the  view  that  the  place  is  probably  Knockavota,  near 
Gorey,  but,  inasmuch  as  the  inaugural  place  is  said  to  be  “ near 
Ferns,”  and,  as  Knockavocka,  in  the  parish  of  Monageer,  both 
from  an  etymological  and  a topographical  standpoint,  answers 
exactly  to  the  description,  there  is  scarcely  any  room  for  doubt 
on  the  point.  Knockavota,  near  Gorey,  is  fully  nine  miles  from 
Ferns,  whereas  Knockavoca  is  only  three  miles. 

Tomsallagh,  in  Monageer,  was  formerly  known  as  Taampul 
Saileach,  and  hence  it  is  a safe  inference  that  it  is  the  site  of  an 
old  church. 


40 


Parish  of  Newtownbarry* 


The  present  parish  of  Newtownbarry  represents  the  older  parish 
of  Kilmeashall,  with  portion  of  Templeshanbo,  and  a small 
portion  of  Kilriish  and  of  St.  Mary’s  (Enniscorthy).  As  a village 
Newtownbarry  came  into  prominence  only  in  the  second  quarter 
of  the  iSth  century,  and  it  was  known  as  Bunclody  as  late  as 
1770.  The  Protestant  parish  was  formed  by  Act  of  Council,  in 
1776.  Kilmeashall  is  about  a mile  from  the  village,  but  though 
the  old  church  has  disappeared,  the  cemetery  and  holy  well  still 
suiwive— silent  witnesses  of  the  old  church  of  St.  Mary  Magdalene. 
O’Donovan  rightly  quoted  the  “ pattern  day  ” as  July  22nd,  but 
he  could  not  discover  the  name  of  the  patronal  saint,  yet,  it  is 
well  known  that  the  church  was  dedicated  to  St.  Mary  Magdalene, 
whose  feast  is  on  that  day.  The  old  Celtic  patron  was  St. 
Colman,  son  of  Cathbhadh,  whose  feast  is  on  September  22nd, 
but  in  the  14th  century  the  new  proprietors  re-dedicated  the 
church  to  St.  Mary  Magdalene — whence  the  modern  name  of  “ St. 
Mary’s.” 

Bunclody  continued  as  a chapelry  of  Templeshanbo  till  the 
second  half  of  the  i8th  century.  Rev.  Maurice  O’Corrin  laboured 
in  the  district  from  1559  to  1589,  and  was  chaplain  to 
MacMurrough  Kavanagh  of  Clonmullen  Castle.  The  Maxwell 
family  acquired  the  village  in  1719,  by  the  marriage  of  John 
Maxwell,  Lord  Farnham,  to  Judith  Barry,  and  held  it  till  1854. 

In  1750  there  was  a thatched  chapel  at  Ballyphilip,  but  in 
1780  the  parish  was  centred  at  Kilmeashall.  Bishop  Caulfield, 
in  1801,  returned  the  parish  of  Kilmeashall  as  worth  Cts  a year, 
with  two  curates.  Finall3%  in  1825,  Newtownbarry  became  the 
parochial  centre,  but,  owing  to  the  bigotry  of  the  Maxwell 
family,  the  parish  church  had  to  be  built  outside  the  village  in 
the  parish  of  Kilrush.  However,  the  parochial  house  was  in 
Marshalstown,  and  so  continued  till  1870. 


41 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Very  Rev.  Patrick  (Canon)  Golfer  appears  as  P.P.  of 
“ Kilmashil”  in  1768.  He  had  a pastorate  of  over  twenty-five 
years,  and  died  on  January  6th,  1794. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Doyle  laboured  from  1794  to  1825. 
The  church  of  Marshalstown  was  burned  by  the  Orangemen  on 
June  9th,  1799,  but  was  rebuilt  in  1801.  In  1812  there  was  a 
thatched  chapel  at  Castledockrill.  Rev.  J.  Stafford  was  C.C. 
from  1794  to  1812,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  James  Browne 
(1812-1814) — subsequently  Bishop  of  Kilmore — after  whom  came 
Rev.  Edward  Cullen,  who  had  been  for  fifteen  years  in  Oporto 
College.  Canon  Doyle  died,  as  Bishop  Keating  writes,  “plenus 
dierum  et  operum,”  on  May  5th,  1825. 

Rev.  Edward  Cullen,  who  had  been  driven  from  Oporto  in 
1809,  and  was  C.C.  of  the  parish  since  1814,  was  promoted  to  the 
pastorate  of  “ Marshalstown”  in  May,  1825.  He  built  the  present 
church  of  Newtownbarry  in  1825-6.  On  November  26th,  1826,  he 
presided  at  a great  meeting  held  “ in  the  new  and  splendid 
chapel  of  Newtownbarrj%”  to  petition  Parliament  for  the  repeal 
of  the  Penal  Laws.  Father  Cullen  was  the  last  of  the  old  pastors 
who  wore  the  disguised  attire  of  a country  squire,  “ neckcloth, 
surtout,  riding  breeches,  and  boots  and  spurs.”  During  his 
pastorate  occurred  the  infamous  tithe-massacre  at  Newtown- 
barry, on  January  i8th,  1831,  when  thirteen  people  were 
murdered  and  twenty  wounded.  Father  Cullen  died  on  May  7th, 
1834- 

Rev.  James  Walsh,  C.C.  of  Newtownbarry  since  1823,  was 
appointed  P.P.  of  “ Marshalstown”  on  May  9th,  1834.  As  C.C. 
he  built  a church  at  Kilmeashall  in  1831.  For  the  greater 
convenience  of  the  parishioners,  a new  church  was  built  at 
Castledockrill,  in  1842.  Father  Walsh  was  transferred  to  New 
Ross  in  1849  (see  New  Ross). 

Rev.  Francis  Wafer,  C.C.  of  Newtownbarry  since  1836,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  September  14th,  1849,  and  resided  at  Marshals- 
town. Rev.  James  Parle,  C.C.  from  1857  to  i860,  gave  over  his 
house  at  Newtownbarry  to  the  Nuns  of  the  Faithful  Companions 
and  went  to  Australia  to  collect  funds  for  a suitable  convent.* 
Father  Wafer  died  on  July  20th,  1866. 

♦Father  Parle  died  at  Melbourne  on  March  2gth,  1870. 


42 


Rev.  John  Doyle,  C.C.,  of  Ferns  since  1854,  was  promoted  to 
the  pastorate  of  “ Marshalstown  ” on  January  1st,  1867,  but 
resigned  the  parish  in  September,  1870,  and  accepted  the  position 
of  C.C.  of  Ferns,  where  he  died,  on  June  gth,  1888.* 

Very  Rev.  Thomas  Busher  was  appointed  P.P.  of  Newtown- 
barry  in  September,  1870,  and  was  subsequently  made  Dean  and 
V.G.  of  Ferns.  Newtovvnbarry  was  formally  recognised  as  the 
parochial  church,  and  a very  fine  residence  was  acquired  for  a 
parochial  house.  Rev.  Andrew  O’Farrell,  C.C.,  of  Marshalstown 
from  January,  1861,  to  1876,  built  a new  church  at  Marshalstown 
in  1873 — the  site  being  about  fifty  yards  from  the  old  church. 
Dean  Busher’s  labours  for  about  thirty-seven  years  cannot  be 
over  estimated.  He  died  on  March  6th,  1907. 

\'enerable  William  (Archdeacon)  Whitty  was  transferred 
from  Lady's  Island  in  April,  1907,  and  laboured  for  seven  years. 
In  1912  Rev.  R.  E.  Fitzhenry,  C.C. , considerably  improved  and 
beautified  the  church  of  Marshalstown.  Archdeacon  W’hitty 
died,  deeply  lamented,  on  July  21st,  1914. 

Rev.  Aidan  Forristal,  C.C.  of  Blackwater  since  June,  1899, 
was  appointed  P.P.  on  August  15th,  1914,  and  is  the  present 
pastor.  There  are  three  curacies  in  the  parish  (Kilmeashall, 
Castledockrill,  and  Marshalstown),  and  six  well  equipped  schools. 


RELIGIOUS  HOUSE. 

Convent  of  the  Faithful  Companions  of  Jesus. 

On  August  5th,  1861,  St.  Mary’s  Convent,  F.C.J.,  w^as  founded 
in  Newtownbarry,  a temporary  home  having  been  generously 
given  by  the  curate,  Father  James  Parle.  From  the  start  the 
Nuns  took  charge  of  the  National  school,  but  they  also  had  a 
day  school  and  a boarding  school.  Under  the  patronage  of 
Bishop  Furlong,  and  with  the  aid  of  Dean  Busher,  P.P.  of 
Newtownbarry  (1870-1907),  St.  Mary’s  attained  a high  position  in 
the  educational  world.  Mother  Victoire  Henihan  was  appointed 
Superioress  in  1883,  and  still  governs  the  convent  with  wisdom, 

•Father  Doyle  preferred  to  be  C.C.  of  Ferns  than  P.P.  of  Newtownbarry, 
50  great  was  his  regard  for  Father  Bernard  Mayler,  P.P.  of  Ferns  (1850-1880). 


43 


kindness,  and  tact.  During  her  regime  the  old  National  school 
has  been  replaced  by  a fine  modem  building,  a new  convent 
chapel  was  erected  in  1884  ; a new  wing  was  added  to  the  convent 
in  1888,  and  a further  extension  was  supplied  in  1891.  Splendid 
Technical  schools  were  added  in  1905,  and  these  were  admirably 
equipped — having  laboratory,  art  room,  domestic  science  room, 
etc.  In  1910  another  new  wing  was  built  providing  the  boarders 
with  lesson  rooms,  music  rooms,  additional  dormitories,  and 
recreation  halls ; and  the  whole  of  the  buildings  have  been  lighted 
by  electric  light.  At  present  (191 5)  there  are  ninety-five  boarders, 
while  the  National  school  has  one  hundred  and  thirty  on  the 
rolls.  The  community  consists  of  forty  Nuns,  with  Very  Rev. 
Aidan  Forristal,  P.P.,  as  chaplain. 


44 


Parish  of  Oylegatc 


The  parish  of  Oylegate  {Aill- gate— the  rock  of  the  goats*,  formerly 
known  as  Mullinagore,  the  mill  of  the  goats)  represents  the  old 
parishes  of  Edermine  and  Ballynaslaney,  with  part  of  Ballyhusk- 
ard.  Edermine — formerly  called  Edar-druim,  or  Ederminemore, 
was  a valuable  Prebend,  and  the  church  was  dedicated  to  St. 
Cuaran  (not  St.  Kieran,  as  O’Donovan  writes)  or  St.  Mo-Cuaroc, 
whose  feast  is  on  February  gth.  In  the  13th  century  the  church 
was  appropriated  to  the  Arroasion  Nuns  of  Timolin,  Co.  Kildare, 
and  so  continued  till  1540.  The  Prebend  included  “ the  church 
of  Rathaspeck  and  the  chapel  of  Kildavin” ; and  Rev.  Richard 
Sinnott  was  the  last  Prebendary  under  the  old  regime  in  1569. 
Not  a trace  of  the  old  church  exists,  but  the  cemetery — which  is 
still  used — indicates  the  site.  St.  Cuaran’s  Well  continues  to  be 
visited  by  pilgrims. 

Ballynaslaney  church  was  dedicated  to  St.  David,  a clear 
indication  of  the  Welsh  colonists  in  the  district. 

In  1740  the  parish  was  known  as  “ Templeshannon  and 
Edermine,”  but  in  1801  it  was  officially  known  as  “ Glanbryan 
and  Edermine.”  At  length,  in  1832,  the  name  of  “ Oilgate”  w'as 
given  to  the  parish — the  spelling  of  which  by  some  strange 
vagary  has,  in  recent  years,  been  changed  to  Oylegate. 

In  1801  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  of  Glanbryan  as 
valued  at  £30  a year,  with  no  curate.  The  present  Registers 
begin  wdth  the  year  1803. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Doyle  was  Pastor  of  the  vast  district  extending 
from  the  bridge  of  Enniscorthy  to  Wexford  from  1686  to  1712.  In 
1704  he  registered  himself  as  Parish  Priest  of  Ballyhuskard, 

*Aill-gate  is  a Celtic-Scandinavian  place-name. 


45 


Templeshannon,  Edermine,  Ballynaslaney,  Kilmallock, 
Kilpatrick,  Ardtramont,  and  Tykillen,  residing  at  Ballyroe. 

Rev.  Patrick  Synnott  was  P.P.  of  “Templeshannon  and 
Edermine”  from  1746  to  1760.  He  is  referred  to  by  Bishop 
Sweetman  in  a document  of  1750,  and  again  in  his  Visitation 
Book  of  1753,  in  which  all  matters  in  the  parish  are  described  as 
“ very  decent  and  orderly.” 

Rev.  John  Wickham  was  P.P.  from  1760  to  1777.  On  St. 
Patrick’s  Day,  1777,  he  was  fatallj^  wounded  by  an  Orange  mob, 
and  died  a fortnight  later,  at  his  lodgings  in  Templeshannon.  His 
will  was  proved  in  1777. 

Rev.  Laurence  Esmond  was  P.P.  from  1777  to  1785.  He  lived 
in  Ballinkeele. 

Rev.  Francis  Lacy  was  P.P.  from  1785  to  1801.  At  the 
commencement  of  his  pastorate  he  built  a thatched  chapel  at 
Glanbrj'an.  This  chapel  was  burned  by  the  Orangemen,  on 
March  13th,  1800.  The  chapel  of  Drumgoole  met  with  a similar 
fate  on  June  21st,  1798. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Sutton,  C.C.  of  Enniscorthy,  was 
appointed  P.P.  in  the  Spring  of  1801,  and  laboured  zealously  for 
thirty-one  years.  He  was  given  a curate  on  February  ist,  1822,  in 
the  person  of  Rev.  Nicholas  Hinton,  whose  successor.  Rev.  John 
Kavanagh,  died  at  Glanbryan  on  November  21st,  1827.*  Canon 
Sutton  (who  built  a house  at  Tincoon)  passed  peacefully  away 
at  the  house  of  Richard  Sutton  of  Ryane,  his  brother-in-law,  on 
July  7th,  1832. 

Very  Rev.  Clement  (Canon)  Pettit — a native  of  Hilltown — 
who  had  been  C.C.  of  Tomacork  for  nineteen  years,  was  appointed 
P.P.  of  “ Oylegate  and  Glanbrien”  on  August  6th,  1832,  and  was 
made  Canon  Penitentiary  on  April  4th,  1833.  He  built  the 
present  National  school,  and  improved  the  old  church  then 
getting  ruinous.  His  death  occurred  on  July  5th,  184S. 

Rev.  Thomas  Busher,  C.C.  of  Lady’s  Island  since  December, 
1826,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  August  14th,  1848,  and  laboured  for 
over  sixteen  years.  His  curate.  Rev.  Thomas  Sheridan,  lived  at 
Glanbryan.  In  1862,  Father  Busher  replaced  the  old  church  of 

•There  was  a beautiful  Elegy  on  the  death  of  Father  Kavanagh  written  by 
a friend,  and  printed  for  private  circulation.  His  grandnephews  are  Revs.  D. 
Kavanagh,  O.  Kavanagh,  and  P.  Kavanagh,  priests  of  the  diocese  of  Ferns. 

46 


Oylegate  by  the  present  substantial  structure,  and  built  a 
commodious  presbytery.  He  died  on  January  27th,  1865,  aged  72. 

Rev.  Thomas  Sheridan,  C.C.  of  Glanbryan  since  i860,  was 
promoted  to  the  pastorate  on  February  28th,  1865,  and  died  on 
December  7th,  1870,  in  his  56th  year. 

Very  Rev.  Michael  (Canon)  Cosgrave,  C.C.  of  Glanbryan 
since  1865,  laboured  as  pastor  from  December,  1870,  till  his  death 
on  January  7th,  1892. 

Very  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon)  Hore,  C.C.  of  Gorey  since 
November,  1876,  was  P.P.  of  Oylegate  from  1892  till  his  death, 
February  25th,  1899. 

Rev.  James  Walsh,  C.C.  of  Taghmon  since  October,  1877, 
laboured  as  Pastor  from  March,  1899,  till  his  death,  September 
nth,  1908. 

Rev.  James  Murphy,  C.C.  of  Crossabeg  from  1889,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  September  26th,  1908,  and  is  the  present 
pastor. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

Cooraun  Well  (the  well  of  St.  Cuaran  or  Mo-Cuaroc)  was  in 
high  esteem  for  centuries,  and  a “ pattern”  was  wont  to  be  held 
on  the  feast  of  the  saint  (9th  February).  It  is  situated  about  a 
quarter  of  a mile  north  of  Edermine  cemetery",  in  the  townland  of 
Garrynisk,  and  is  still  occasionally  visited.  There  is  also  a holj'^ 
well  at  Tincoon,  between  Edermine  and  Oylegate,  which  is  said 
to  be  dedicated  to  St.  Cuan,  the  patron  saint  of  Ballybrennan, 
near  Bree,  but  the  etymology  is  simply  Tigh  anchuain,  the  house 
of  the  winding  stream. 

Not  a trace  remains  of  the  ancient  church  of  St.  David,  at 
Ballynaslaney,  but  its  site  can  be  traced  in  the  old  cemetery. 
Not  far  off  is  St.  David’s  Well,  at  which  a “ pattern”  was  formerly 
held  on  the  1st  of  March.  In  1910  a neat  wall  was  built  around 
the  well,  and  the  old  pilgrimage  was  revived.  Quite  a number 
of  cures  were  recorded  in  the  years  1911-1913,  but  the  pilgrimage 
has  again  fallen  into  desuetude. 

At.  Rahaile  may  still  be  traced  the  site  of  a castle  built  by 
the  Stafford  family. 


47 


RELIGIOUS  HOUSE. 


In  November,  1914,  a colony  of  Benedictine  monks  of  the 
reform  of  Beuron,  many  of  them  driven  from  their  Abbeys  in 
Belgium  owing  to  the  great  world-war,  acquired  Edermine 
House,  the  seat  of  the  Power  family.  Abbot  Marmion  of 
Maredsous  obtained  the  consent  of  the  Bishop  of  Ferns  to  found 
a Benedictine  Priory  on  the  same  plan  as  the  houses  at  Erdington 
and  at  Caldey  Island.  Accordingly,  on  Christmas  Day,  1914, 
Dom  Columba  Marmion,  O.S.B.,  solemnly  blessed  and  opened 
the  Priory,  and  he  appointed  Dom  Aubert  Merten  as  Prior. 
The  present  community  numbers  about  thirty. 


48 


Parish  of  Oulart 


OuLART  (Abhal  ghort — an  orchard)  represents  the  old  parishes  of 
Meelnagh,  Kilbride,  and  Kilnamanagh,  with  the  greater  portions 
of  Kilcormack,  Castle  Ellis,  and  Ballyhuskard.  The  name 
Meelnagh  means  “ abounding  in  small  round  hills”  (maolanach), 
and  the  parish  was  a perpetual  vicarage,  dedicated  to  St.  Cronan, 
Bishop  of  Ferns,  whose  feast  is  June  22nd.  The  church  was 
impropriated  to  the  Preceptory  of  Kilclogan.  Kilnamanagh 
(Church  of  the  Monks),  was  an  old  Celtic  monastery,  which  was 
secularised  in  the  13th  century,  dedicated  to  St.  Moling. 
Kilcormack  was  dedicated  to  St.  Cormac  Ua  Liathain,  whose 
feast  is  on  June  21st.  Castle  Ellis  (impropriated  to  Kilclogan) 
Avas  dedicated  to  St.  John  the  Baptist,  and  the  story 
of  its  desecration  by  Bishop  Allen  has  been  told  in  the 
Introduction.  Kilbride  (now  represented  by  the  Ballagh,  a town- 
land  in  the  parish  of  Ballyhuskard)  was  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid, 
and  belonged  to  the  Canons  of  St.  John’s,  Enniscorthy.  Bally- 
huskard was  originally  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  but  was 
re-dedicated  to  St.  Peter. 

In  the  17th  century  the  parish  was  known  as  ” Meelnagh  and 
Kilnamanagh,”  but  in  1760  the  name  was  changed  to  “ Kilbride 
and  Oulart.”  In  1801  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  as 
worth  £^o  a year,  with  no  curate.  The  present  Registers  were 
commenced  in  1823.  The  curacy  is  at  Ballaghkeene. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Turlogh  Connellan  (ordained  by  Ven.  Oliver  Plunket, 
at  Dundalk,  in  1671)  was  P.P.  of  Meelnagh  and  Kilnamanagh 
from  1680  to  1710.  He  registered+iimself  in  1704,  at  which  date 
he  was  residing  at  Tinnock,  in  the  parish  of  Kilcormack. 


49 


E 


Rev.  Bryan  Kehoe  was  P.P.  from  1711  till  his  death  in  1729. 
He  was  possessed  of  some  means,  and  made  a will,  which  was 
duly  proved  in  1729.  In  this  will  he  describes  himself  as  P.P.  of 
“ Milenaugh  and  Kilnemanagh.” 

Rev.  Edmond  Dempsey  was  P.P.  from  1729  to  1760.  Abel 
Ram,  in  his  Report  to  the  Government,  dated  March  loth,  1743-4, 
mentions  Edmond  Dempsey  as  “ Popish  Priest  residing  at 
Knocknaskeagh.”  In  1753  Bishop  Sweetman,  in  his  Visitation 
Book,  has  an  entr}^  of  holding  a Confirmation  in  the  parish  on 
May  28th.  At  that  date  a chapel  had  been  built  at  Oulart  by  a 
member  of  the  Synnott  familj'. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Synnott  was  P.P.  from  1760  till  1823— a record 
pastorate  of  sixty- three  years.  He  lived  in  Kilbride.  As  is  well 
known,  the  church  of  Oulart  was  burned  on  November  28th, 
1798,  but  was  rebuilt  in  1801.  The  chapel  at  the  Ballagh  was 
built  in  1803.  On  November  i6th,  1789,  Rev.  Michael  Redmond 
was  appointed  C.C.,  but  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of 
Castlebridge  in  1795.  Father  Synnott  passed  through  all  the 
horrors  of  ’98,  and  died  on  January’  26th,  1823,  almost  a centenarian. 
He  was  interred  in  Ballyhuskard,  and  the  following  epitaph  (now 
almost  undecipherable)  appears  on  his  monument : — “ Here  lieth 
the  body  of  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Synnott,  of  Kilbride,  P.P.  of  Oulart 
and  Ballaghkeene,  who  died  January  26th,  1823,  aged  g8.  R.I.P.” 

Rev.  James  Hore,  C.C.  of  Kilmore  since  1810,  w’as  appointed 
P.P.  of  “ Kilbride  and  Oulart”  on  February  25th,  1823.  His 
curate.  Rev.  Nicholas  Herron,  was  changed  to  Ferns  in  1826,  and 
was  replaced  successively  by  Rev.  Owen  Dempsey  (1826-1827) 
and  Rev.  William  Roche  (1827-1839).  Father  Hore  was  a native 
of  Ballybrennan,  and,  after  a pastorate  of  over  nine  years,  he 
died  on  September  i8th,  1832,  aged  71,  and  was  interred  at 
Ballybrennan. 

Rev.  Michael  Mitten,  Adm.  of  Camolin  from  1828  to  1832,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  October  23rd,  1832.  Fle  built  the  present 
presbytery  of  Oulart  in  1834.  After  eight  years’  zealous  labour 
he  was  transferred  to  Sutton’s  Parish,  in  October,  1840. 

Rev.  Timothy  O’Farrell,  C.C.  of  Boolavogue,  and  subse- 
quently of  Bree,  was  made  P.P.  of  Oulart  in  October,  1840.  In 
1862  his  health  became  precarious,  and  Rev.  John  D.  Hore,  C.C., 
acted  as  Adm.  from  January,  1863,  to  January,  1864.  Father 
O’Farrell  died  on  April  15th,  1868. 


50 


Rev.  Patrick  Kenny,  C.C.  of  Oulart  from  1853  to  i860,  and 
Adm.  from  1864  to  1868,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  April  17th,  1868, 
and  laboured  unremittingly  till  his  death  on  August  25th,  1911, 
aged  88.  He  has  left  an  imperishable  memorial  in  the  present 
beautiful  parish  church,  which  was  built  between  the  years 
1907-9. 

Rev.  John  Maher,  C.C.  of  Ballygarret  (1893-1898)  and  C.C.  of 
Litter  since  1898,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  August  15th,  1911,  and 
is  the  present  pastor. 

ANTIQUITIES. 

Meelnagh  church  has  disappeared,  but  not  far  off  is  a holy 
well,  Tobernaclura  (in  the  townland  of  Killygowan),  formerly 
visited  by  pilgrims  on  June  22nd,  the  feast  of  St.  Cronan.  In  the 
old  cemetery  is  an  ancient  circular  font,  rough  hewn  out  of  a 
block  of  granite.  St.  Cronan  was  also  known  as  St.  Mochua 
Luachra. 

The  old  church  of  Kilnamanagh  was  dismantled  in  1735,  but 
the  cemetery  marks  the  site.  Adjoining  it  is  a holy  well 
dedicated  to  St.  Moling. 

Kilcormack  old  church  was  in  the  townland  of  Glebe,  but  it 
has  long  since  disappeared.  Near  the  site  is  a holy  well  at 
which  there  was  formerly  an  annual  “pattern"  on  June  21st,  the 
feast  of  St.  Cormac. 

Castle  Ellis  cemetery  contains  many  tombs  of  interest, 
including  that  of  Father  Michael  Murphy  (C.C.  of  Ballycanew), 
who  was  killed  at  the  Battle  of  Arklow,  on  June  9th,  1798. 

The  church  of  Kilbride  has  been  non-existent  for  two 
centuries,  and  the  church  of  Ballyhuskard— not  far  from  the  Mye 
cross  roads— has  also  disappeared.  The  site  of  the  latter  can  still 
be  plainly  traced,  and  in  the  secluded  cemetery  (containing  some 
interesting  monuments)  is  a fragment  of  a holy  water  font.  The 
church  was  dedicated  to  St.  Peter,  and  St.  Peter’s  Well  adjoins 
the  cemetery. 

At  Ballingowan  is  a fine  moat.  At  Clondaw  was  a castle 
built  by  the  O’Morchoes  (Murphys),  who  had  estates  at  Oulart, 
Oulartleigh,  and  Toberlomina.  In  1607  James  Synnott  held  the 
castle  of  Oulart. 

Oulart  Hill  was  the  scene  of  the  first  success  of  the  men  of 
’98,  under  Father  John  Murphy. 


51 


Parish  of  Rathnure 


As  has  been  stated  in  connection  with  the  parish  of  Cloughbawn, 
the  parish  of  Rathnure  is  of  quite  modern  foundation,  and  dates 
only  from  January  ist,  1853,  when  Rev.  Myles  Doran  was 
appointed  first  Pastor.  Killegny  was  divided  into  Cloughbawn 
and  Rathnure,  the  latter  parish  including  Killann  and  Temple- 
udigan.  The  old  parish  of  Killann  was  an  impropriate  rectory 
of  Duiske  (Graignamanagh)  Abbey,  while  Templeudigan  belonged 
to  Glascarrig  Priory.  In  addition,  the  monks  of  Duiske  served 
the  villages  of  Garrane  and  Monksgrange.  Templeudigan 
(Teampul  Lugadain)  was  dedicated  St.  Lugidan,  the  nephew  of 
St.  Patrick,  but  it  has  completely  disappeared. 

Although  Ballywilliam  is  in  the  parish  of  Rathnure,  the 
railway  station  is  in  the  parish  of  St.  Mullins.  It  is  also  well  to 
note  that  the  townlands  of  Ballyleigh,  Polmonty,  Ballinacoola, 
Ballinaberna,  Cummer  (Upper),  and  Garrane — although  in  the 
County  of  Wexford — are  in  the  diocese  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin. 
The  river  Bors  divides  Blackstairs  Mountain  from  the  White 
Mountains. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Peter  Molloy  was  P.P.  of  Killann  from  1697  to  1715. 
He  resided  at  Garrane. 

Rev.  Martin  Redmond  was  P.P.  from  1743  to  1770,  whose 
successors  were  : — Rev.  Henry  O’Keeffe  (1770-1780),  Rev.  Michael 
Ennis  (1790-1793),  Rev.  Thomas  Rogers  (1793-1815),  and  Canon 
Furlong  (1816-1852).  (See  Cloughbawn). 

Rev.  Myles  Doran,  C.C.  of  Castlebridge,  was  appointed  first 
P.P.  of  Rathnure  on  January  17th,  1853,  and  in  the  following 
October  he  obtained  a curate,  Rev.  Walter  Sinnott.  He  rebuilt 


52 


the  church  of  Rathnure  (near  the  village  of  Killann)  in  i860. 
Rev.  David  Kent,  C.C.,  was  removed  to  Barntown  in  1877,  and 
was  replaced  by  Rev.  Patrick  Sheil  (the  present  P.P.  of  Bree).  In 
February,  1878,  Father  Doran  was  transferred  to  Castlebridge. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Walsh,  C.C.  of  Oylegate  from  1871 
to  1878,  was  appointed  P.P.  in  February,  1878,  and  laboured  for 
17  years.  He  died  on  February  12th,  1895. 

Rev.  Andrew  Cavanagh,  C.C.  of  Cushinstown  since  1885, 
was  P.P.  from  March,  1895,  to  March,  1897,  when  he  was  transferred 
to  Buttons  Parish. 

Rev.  Peter  Doyle,  C.C.  of  Adamstown  since  1885,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  May  8th,  1897,  and  is  the  present  pastor. 
Owing  to  infirm  health  he  was  given  an  additional  curate  in 
June,  1915. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

Killann  church  has  long  since  disappeared,  but  the  holy 
well  of  St.  Ann  still  survives.  Killann  was  also  known  as 
Farrenamanagh  or  Monksland,  as  it  belonged  to  the  monks  of 
Graignamanagh.  Monksgrange  perpetuates  the  name  of  the 
monastic  property. 

Templeudigan  church  has  also  disappeared,  yet  the  existing 
cemetery  is  a silent  witness  of  St.  Lugidan’sold  temple.  Not  far 
off  is  St.  Patrick’s  Well,  formerly  in  great  repute,  at  which  a 
“ pattern”  was  wont  to  be  held  on  each  recurring  feast  of  the 
National  Apostle  (March  17th)  until  about  the  year  1820. 

In  Ballywilliam  there  is  a Killeen  in  the  middle  of  a fort.  At 
some  distance  off  was  a castle  of  the  Kavanaghs,  but  it  has  been 
razed  to  the  very  foundations. 


53 


Deanery  of  Gorey 


1.  Gorey. 

2.  Annacurra. 

3.  Ballyoughter. 

4.  Ballygarret. 


Parishes  of  : 


Craanford. 

Kilanerin. 

Litter. 

Tomacork. 


Parish  of  Gorcy 


The  present  parish  of  Gorey  represents  the  old  parish  of 
Kilmakilloge,  with  part  of  Kilnahue  and  Kiltennel.  The 
name  Gorey  is  non-ecclesiastical,  and,  according  to  Joyce,  means 
“ a place  of  goats,”  but  the  old  parish  church  was  known  as 
Kilmakilloge  or  Kilmochilloge.  O’Donovan  did  not  recognise 
that  the  founder  of  the  church  of  Gorey  was  St.  Sillan  or  Silog, 
whose  feast  is  July  13th.  The  church  was  in  reality  Cill  mo  Sillog, 
pronounced  Kilmoheeloge,  the  name  Sillan  being  transformed 
into  Mo-Sill-og,  just  as  St.  Aedan  got  changed  to  Mo-Aedh-og. 
O’Donovan,  however,  rightly  assumed  that  the  old  Celtic  church 
of  Kilmochilloge  is  the  ruinous  temple  known  as  Clonattin, 
about  a mile  distant  from  the  present  town  of  Gorey.  Some 
writers  have  sought  to  derive  Clonattin  from  Cluain-Aedan, 
“the  retreat  of  St.  Aedan,”  but  the  true  etymology  is 
“ the  meadow  of  the  furze.”  There  is  another  townland  of 
Clonattin  near  Newtownbarrj'. 

In  the  13th  century  the  church  of  St.  Sillan  at  Clonattin  was 
re-dedicated  to  St.  Michael.  It  was  a chapelry  attached  to  the 
Deanery  of  Ferns,  and  as  such  continued  till  1560.  The  last 
chaplain  of  St.  Sillan’s,  Gorey,  under  the  old  regime,  was  Rev. 
Patrick  MacMurrough,  who  received  a political  pardon  on 
October  25th,  1552. 

Thomas  Ram,  Protestant  Bishop  of  Ferns  and  Leighlin,  got 
a Charter  for  the  town  of  Gorey  in  i6ig,  and  had  the  name  of  the 
place  changed  to  “ Newborough.”  In  1620  he  transferred  the 
episcopal  palace  from  Ferns  to  Gorey,  and  called  the  new 
residence  “ Ramsfort.”  The  church  was  re-dedicated  by  the 
name  of  “ Christ  Church,  Newborough.”  However,  in  1672, 
Bishop  Boyle,  having  obtained  a liberal  augmentation  of  the 
See  lands— about  3,000  acres  (Irish)  for  £’300  a year,  the  quit 


57 


rent  being  reduced  to  £44  gs,  6d.  annually — started  the 
“ restoration”  of  the  Cathedral  at  Ferns,  leaving  Ramsfort  to  the 
Ram  family. 

So  great  was  the  bigotry  of  the  Ram  family  that  no  priest 
dare  live  in  the  town  of  Gorey  from  1620  to  1820,  nor  would  they 
permit  a Catholic  church  to  be  built  in  the  town.  In  1801  Bishop 
Caulfield  returned  the  parish  of  Gorey  as  worth  £161  a year, 
with  two  curates.  • 

Up  to  the  year  1845  the  Parish  Priest  lived  at  Kilanerin,  and 
baptisms  and  marriages  were  registered  there.  The  Conferences 
for  the  Deanery  of  Gorey  were  also  held  at  the  parochial  house 
in  Kilanerin.  The  present  Register  begins  with  the  year  1845. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Daniel  Kavanagh  was  Pastor  of  the  district  from  1676 
to  1716.  He  registered  himself  in  1704  as  P.P.  of  Kilnahue, 
Kilmakilloge,  Kiltennell,  Ballycanew,  Tomb  and  Rosminogue. 
The  “ Mass  House”  was  at  Glandoran,  in  the  parish  of  Kilnahue. 
In  1715  a spy  reports  having  gone  thither,  in  the  hope  of  securing 
persons  who,  it  is  alleged,  were  being  enlisted  for  the  Pretender. 

Rev.  Matthew  Casey  was  Parish  Priest  of  Gorey  and  Kilanerin 
from  1717  to  1763.  In  a Report,  dated  March  loth,  1743,  Abel 
Ram,  Sovereign  of  Gorey,  gives  an  account  of  Father  Casey,  and 
mentions  that  he  lived  at  his  brother’s  house  at  Tinnock,  in  the 
parish  of  Kilcavan  (Kilanerin).  Father  Casey  is  also  mentioned 
in  Bishop  Sweetman's  Visitation  of  1753  as  having  “all  things 
decent  and  well.”  A Father  Carr  is  given  as  C.C.  of  Kilanerin  in 
1743,  residing  at  Coolgreany. 

Rev.  John  Shalloe,  a native  of  Adamstown,  was  P.P.  from 
1763  to  1784.  His  remains  were  interred  in  the  cemetery  of  Old 
Ross. 

Rev.  John  Sinnott  laboured  as  Pastor  of  Gorey  and  Kilanerin 
from  1784  to  1814.  He  had  a chapel  at  Ballyfad.  During  the 
Insurrection  of  ’98  his  thatched  chapel  at  Kilanerin  was  burned 
by  Hunter  Gowan,  and,  though  hurriedly  rebuilt  soon  afterwards, 
was  again  put  to  the  flames  by  the  Yeomanry  on  June  29th,  1799. 
Father  Sinnolt's  life  was  in  such  peril  that  he  fled  to  the  house 


58 


of  his  relatives  in  Blackwater,  leaving  his  curate,  Rev.  Patrick 
Stafford,  in  charge  of  the  district.  Father  Sinnott  died  in  1814. 

Very  Rev.  Patrick  (Canon)  Sinnott,  a native  of  Tanner  Hill, 
parish  of  Piercestown,  was  appointed  P.P.  in  1814,  and  laboured 
for  31  years  One  of  his  curates.  Rev.  Walter  Furlong,  was  sent 
to  Ballindaggin  in  1824,  and  was  replaced  by  Rev.  James 
Kennedy.  Rev.  Peter  Corish  (C.C.  since  1822)  was  promoted  to 
the  pastorate  of  Bannow  in  1830.  In  1833  Father  Sinnott  was  made 
Canon  and  Vicar  General  of  Ferns,  and  in  1837  he  determined  to 
build  a suitable  church.  However,  it  was  only  by  a ruse  that, 
through  the  help  of  Sir  Thomas  Esmonde,  he  was  enabled  to 
acquire  the  present  site  ; and  the  services  of  the  eminent  Pugin 
were  secured  as  architect.  The  Esmonde  arms,  carved  in  a 
stone  block  over  the  doorway,  with  the  date  1839,  evidence  the 
year  in  which  the  beautiful  church,  with  its  massive  tower,  was 
commenced,  and  it  was  completed  in  1842.  Canon  Sinnott 
contributed  /^i,ooo  towards  its  erection,  and  Sir  Thomas  Esmonde 
was  a most  generous  benefactor,  also  supplying  the  exquisite 
marble  altars  and  the  magnificently  carved  oak  pulpit.  Canon 
Sinnott  died  at  Kilanerin  parochial  house,  in  April,  1845.  Of 
him.  Bishop  Keating  writes  : — “ Fuit  bonus  pastor,  cujus  memoria 
est  in  benedictione.”  (He  was  a good  pastor,  whose  memory  is 
held  in  benediction). 

Rev.  Denis  Hore,  C.C.  of  Killegny  since  January  1824,  was 
appointed  P.P.  of  Gorey,  under  the  new  arrangement,  in  August, 
1845,  and  Kilanerin  was  made  a separate  parish.  His  pastorate 
was  brief,  and  he  died  in  1847,  and  was  buried  with  the  Hore 
family  in  Ballybrennan.  His  curates  were  Rev.  William  Murphy 
and  Rev.  Edmund  Doyle. 

Very  Rev.  James  (Canon)  Lacy,  C.C.  of  Wexford  from  1833 
to  1847,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  June  17th,  1847,  and  ruled  for 
37  years.  He  built  a fine  parochial  house,  and  good  schools. 
During  his  pastorate,  in  1834,  the  Protestant  curate.  Rev.  Francis 
J.  Kirk,  became  a Catholic,  and,  a year  later,  in  1855,  the  whole 
of  the  Ram  family  entered  the  fold  of  the  true  Church,  an  event 
due,  under  Providence,  to  the  ceaseless  prayers  of  Mother  Mary 
Benedicta  Somers,  Superioress  of  the  Loretto  Abbey,  Gorey. 
Father  Kirk  was  ordained  a priest  at  Rome  on  June  27th,  1858, 


59 


and  he  preached  in  Gorey,  on  August  15th,  attracting  an 
enormous  congregation.  In  i860,  Sir  Thomas  Esmonde  erected 
a fine  Celtic  cross  in  the  cemetery.  Canon  Lacy  died  on 
July  1 2th,  1884. 

Very  Rev.  John  L.  (Canon)  Furlong,  Archdeacon  of  Ferns, 
was  P.P.  from  September,  1885  (when  he  was  transferred  from 
Ballygarret),  till  his  death  on  January  20th,  1907.  He  effected 
many  improvements  in  the  parish. 

Very  Rev.  Walter  (Canon)  Rossiter — transferred  from 
Annacurra  on  February  loth,  1907— is  the  present  Pastor.  Anew 
church  is  being  built  at  Tara  Hill,  which  will  serve  as  a chapel 
of  ease  to  Gorey. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

The  sole  reminder  of  the  ancient  church  of  Gorey  is  the  ruin 
in  the  cemetery  at  Clonattin.  The  church  would  appear  to  have 
been  thirty  feet  long  by  twenty  feet  in  width.  Parts  of  the  north 
and  south  walls  (about  four  feet  thick)  and  a fragment  of  the 
western  end  still  survive.  Sufficient  remains  of  the  sculptured 
doorway  to  prove  it  to  have  been  in  the  beautiful  Hiberno- 
Romanesque  style.  There  are  small  windows  in  the  north  and 
south  walls,  but  these  are  now  covered  with  ivy. 

No  trace  remains  of  the  old  church  of  Kilbride  (Courtownor 
Ballynacourt)  but  an  old  Celtic  granite  cross,  inside  the  demesne 
Avail  of  Lord  Courtown,  would  seem  to  mark  the  site.*  This 
cross  is  seven  feet  and  a half  high,  and  about  three  feet  and  a half 
across  the  arms.  In  1386  John  Neville  Avas  presented  to  the 
church  of  CourtOAvn. 

Ballynastragh  (the  seat  of  Sir  Thomas  H.  Grattan  Esmonde, 
Bart.,  M.P.)  is  not  far  from  the  ruined  castle  of  Limbrick,  some 
of  the  stones  of  which  are  incorporated  in  the  present  mansion. 

Tara  Hill  was  formerly  known  as  Fordrum,  and  was  portion 
of  the  property  of  Dubhthach,  arch- poet  of  Ireland.  On  the  side 
of  Tara  Hill  is  a small  oratory  church  known  as  Kildermot. 


*In  1712  James  Stopford  lived  at  “Kilbride  near  Gorey.”  In  1758  he  was 
created  Baron  of  Courtown,  and,  in  1762  was  advanced  to  the  dignities  of 
Viscount  Stopford  and  Earl  of  Courtown. 


60 


RELIGIOUS  HOUSES. 

I. — Our  Lady  of  Loretto. 

In  June,  1843,  at  the  request  of  Canon  Sinnott,  the  saintly 
Mother  Teresa  Bell  sent  a small  community  from  Rathfarnham, 
to  found  an  Abbey  at  Gorey,  under  the  superintendence  of 
M.  Benedicta  Somers,  and,  in  a few  years,  schools  were  opened 
for  the  poor  and  middle  classes,  as  well  as  a boarding  school. 
Through  the  ministrations  of  the  first  Superioress,  many  notable 
conversions  were  effected,  especially  the  Ram  family  and  Rev. 
Francis  Kirk.  Mother  Somers  died  on  September  28th,  1855. 

Mother  Aloysia  Sweetman  governed  the  Abbey  from  1855  to 
1867,  and,  in  1866,  a foundation  was  sent  to  Wexford  which  has 
since  borne  good  fruit. 

Mother  Gonzaga  Barry,  during  her  short  time  of  office  (1867- 
1870)  effected  many  improvements,  and  she  is  best  known  as  the 
Foundress  of  the  Institute  of  the  B.V.M.  in  Australia. 

Mother  Josephine  Lett’s  rule  (1870-1880)  is  memorable  for  a 
second  foundation  from  Gorey,  namely,  at  Enniscorthy. 

Under  succeeding  Superioresses  the  convent  in  Gorey  has 
kept  well  abreast  of  the  times,  and  recently  there  has  been  erected 
a splendidly  equipped  National  school  as  a memorial  of  the  late 
Archdeacon  Furlong. 

The  present  Superioress  is  Mother  E.  O’Hare,  under  whom  a 
special  class  has  been  opened,  under  the  Department,  for  courses 
in  cookery,  domestic  science,  and  practical  training. 

II.— Christian  Brothers’  Schools. 

The  Christian  Brothers  were  introduced  into  Gorey  by  Canon 
James  Lacy,  in  1851,  and  have  excellent  schools — both  primarj’ 
and  secondary.  Special  attention  is  given  to  Irish  and  Irish 
history.  Brother  Baptist  Woods  (1870-1873)  and  Brother 
MacNally  (1873-1880)  did  good  work.  In  1894  a new  residence 
for  the  Brothers  was  erected.  The  present  Superior  is  Brother 
L.  B.  Murphy  ; and  the  number  of  pupils  is  close  on  200. 


61 


Parish  of  Annacurra 


The  united  parishes  of  Annacurra  and  Kilaveney  represent  the 
ancient  parishes  of  Kilcommon,  Kilpipe,  with  portions  of  Cross- 
patrick  and  Preban.  St.  Patrick’s  presence  in  this  district  is 
amply  testified  by  the  place-names  Skeaghpatrick,  Crosspatrick, 
Patrick’s  Well,  and  Patrick’s  Bush.  The  National  Apostle 
journeyed  from  Rathvilly  to  Tinahely,  Crosspatrick,  and  thence 
to  Kilcavan  (Limbrick)  and  Donaghmore,  having  placed  St. 
Isserinus  as  Bishop  of  Aghade. 

Kilcommon  (St.  Coman’s  Church)  was  a valuable  prebend 
in  the  diocese  of  Ferns  till  the  close  of  the  i6th  century.  Rev. 
Nicholas  O’Cullen,  circa  1575,  was  the  last  Catholic  pastor  under 
the  old  regime.  He  was  reported  to  the  Government  by  Bishop 
Ram  in  1612.  The  district  includes  the  famous  wood  of  Shillelagh, 
and  extends  to  the  village  of  Aughrim,  including  the  post  office. 
Kilpipe  was  dedicated  to  St.  Lian,  who  was  also  patron  of 
Killiane. 

In  1801  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  of  Kilaveney  as 
worth  £"50  a year,  without  a curate. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Murtagh  Brennan  was  P.P.  of  the  district  from  1687  to 
1712.  He  registered  himself,  in  1704,  as  Parish  Priest  of 
Kilcommon,  Kilpipe,  Crosspatrick,  Preban,  and  Carnew,  residing 
at  Rosbane.  He  died  at  Rosbane  in  1712,  and  probate  of  his  will 
was  taken  out  in  the  same  year. 

Rev.  James  Brennan  was  P.P.  from  1780  to  1801.  On 
December  26th,  1789,  Rev.  Thomas  Clinch  was  sent  as  C.C.  of 
Kilaveney,  but  was  almost  immediately  made  C.C.  of  the  Hook. 
Father  Brennan  built  a thatched  chapel  at  Annacurra,  which 
was  burned  by  the  Orange  faction  in  September,  1798.  Kilaveney 


62 


church  was  also  burned  by  the  Yeomanr}-  on  November  nth  of 
same  year.  Father  Brennan  died  in  i8oi,  and  was  buried  in  the 
old  cemetery  of  Kilaveney. 

Rev.  Charles  O’Brien  laboured  as  P.P.  from  i8oi  to  1841. 
During  his  pastorate  a church  was  erected  at  Crossbridge, 
dedicated  to  SS.  Peter  and  Paul,  in  1825,  by  Rev.  Peter  Doyle, 
C.C.  In  1826  Earl  Fitzwilliam  gave  £300  and  15  acres  of  land  on 
which  to  build  a curate’s  residence.  In  1839  Father  Doyle  was 
sent  as  C.C.  of  Killegny,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Nicholas 
Pierce,  of  Coolfancy.  Father  O’Brien  died  on  April  19th,  1841. 

Rev.  Thomas  Hore,  Adm.  of  Camolin  from  1828  to  1841,  was 
appointed  Pastor  on  May  i8th,  1841.  He  erected  the  present 
parochial  church — dedicated  to  St.  Kevin — of  Kilaveney  in  1843, 
and  it  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Keating  on  April  20th,  1844. 
In  November,  1850,  owing  to  the  aftermath  of  the  famine,  he 
resigned  his  charge  and  took  the  greater  part  of  his  parishioners 
to  New  Orleans.  Having  seen  them  safely  settled,  he  returned 
to  Ireland  in  1851,  and  having  acted  for  a time  as  curate  of  Cairn, 
was  made  P.P.  of  Cloughbawn. 

Rev.  Walter  Synnott,  C.C.  of  Monamoling  (Litter)  since  1834 
was  appointed  P.P.  on  November  4th,  1850,  and  had  a pastorate 
of  25  years.  During  his  pastorate.  Rev.  Martin  Fortune,  C.C., 
rebuilt  the  church  of  Annacurra,  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  in  1867. 
Father  Synnott  died  on  April  30th,  1875. 

Rev.  Martin  Fortune,  C.C.  of  the  pari.sh  since  1857,  was 
appointed  P.P.  in  May,  1875,  and  laboured  zealously  till  his 
death  on  July  30th,  1901. 

Rev.  Walter  Rossiter,  C.C.  of  New  Ross  since  1888,  was 
appointed  Pastor  on  August  loth,  1901,  but  was  transferred  to 
the  more  important  parish  of  Gorey  on  February  20th,  1907. 

Rev.  John  Dunne,  Adm.  of  Rnniscorthy  from  1900  to  1907, 
was  appointed  P.P.  on  March  ist,  1907.  He  has  worked  earnestly 
in  the  parish  for  over  eight  years,  and  has  recently  got  a curate’s 
residence  built  in  Tinahely. 

ANTIQUITIES. 

Reference  has  already  been  made  to  St.  Patrick’s  visit  to  this 
district.  St.  Patrick’s  Well  is  in  the  townland  of  Kilaveney, 
under  Croghan  Hill. 


63 


Kilpipe  church  and  cemetery  can  be  seen  on  the  east  of  the 
valley  stretching  from  Shillelagh  to  Woodenbridge.  Though 
dismantled,  the  church  is  in  a fair  state  of  preservation. 

The  old  Catholic  church  of  Kilaveney  was  cruciform,  and 
ran  east  and  west.  It  has  become  ruinous  since  1843,  when 
the  present  church  was  built. 

At  Logan,  or  Loggan,  in  Crosspatrick,  there  is  a high  moat 
near  which  are  several  groups  of  cists,  in  some  of  which  cinerary 
urns  were  found. 

Preban  (pronounced  Prebawn)  church  is  now  utterly  ruinous, 
but  the  cemetery  is  still  occasionally  used  for  burials.  The  name 
had  reference  to  the  Prebend  of  Crosspatrick. 

Kilcommon  church  has  completely  disappeared,  but  on  its 
site  was  built  the  present  Protestant  church,  in  1820.  The 
cemetery  adjoins  the  church.  A memorial  of  the  old  Catholic 
church  at  Kilcommon  is  the  holy  water  font,  which  now  lies 
upturned  near  the  entrance  to  the  present  structure. 

There  is  an  old  cemetery  at  Kyle,  still  occasionally  used  for 
burials. 

In  the  ancient  cemetery  of  Kilcashel,  not  far  from  Wicklow 
Gap,  is  a fine  monument  erected  by  Canon  Kirwan,  P.P.  of  New 
Ross,  to  the  memory  of  his  relatives.  The  inscription  reads  as 
follows : — 

“ Erected  by  the  Very  Rev.  John  Kirwan,  P.P.,  V.F.,  New 
Ross,  to  the  memory  of  his  father,  Dermot  Kirwan,  of  Kilpipe, 
who  died  24th  January,  1824  ; his  mother,  Sarah,  daughter  of 
John  Foley,  Nickeen,  Killenure,  Co.  Wicklow  ; his  grandfather, 
Timothy  Kirwan,  of  Kilpipe,  who  died  in  1803  ; his  great  grand- 
father, Denis  Kirwan,  of  Kilpipe,  who  died  in  1767  ; his  uncle, 
Daniel  Kirwan,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Vinegar  Hill ; his  uncle, 
Laurence  Kirwan,  shot  as  a rebel  in  Carnew,  in  ’98 ; his  uncle, 
Denis  Kirwan,  transported  as  a rebel,  and  afterwards  killed  in 
the  service  of  France  : his  brothers,  Timothy,  died  1866  ; Daniel, 
who  died  at  New  York,  1884  ; Laurence,  Parish  Priest  of  Pierces- 
town  and  Dean  of  Ferns,  died  1880.  R.I.P.” 


Parish  of  Ballyoughtcr 


This  parish — formerly  included  in  Camolin — only  dates  from 
1875,  but  it  represents  the  old  parishes  of  Leskinfere,  Ballycanew, 
Tomb,  and  part  of  Kilnahue.  Tomb  was  formerly  a valuable 
parish  and  prebend,  but  is  now  a townland. 

In  1801  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  of  “Tombe"  as 
valued  at  a 3'ear.  The  Parochial  Registers  go  back  to  1810. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

As  noted  under  Gorey,  Rev.  Daniel  Kavanagh  was  Pastor 
of  this  district  from  1676  to  1716. 

Rev,  Henry  Masterson  was  P.P.  of  “ Monaseed  ” from  1740  to 
1767. 

Very  Rev.  Francis  (Canon)  Kavanagh  laboured  from  1767  to 
1805.  One  of  his  curates.  Rev.  Michael  Murph^’,  C.C,  of 
Ballycanew,  was  killed  at  the  Battle  of  Arklow  in  ’98,  and  was 
buried  at  Castle  Ellis.  Another  curate.  Father  John  Redmond, 
C.C.  of  Camolin,  was  hanged  by  Lord  Mountnorris. 

Rev.  James  Keating,  who  had  been  C.C.  of  Camolin,  was 
appointed  Adm.  in  1812,  and  continued  as  such  till  1819,  when  he 
was  made  Bishop  of  Ferns. 

Camolin  remained  a mensal  parish  from  1805  to  1875.  The 
successive  Administrators  were: — Rev.  Nicholas  Furlong  (1819- 
1828),  made  P.P.  of  Litter  ; Rev.  Michael  Mitten  (1828-1832),  made 
P.P.  of  Oulart ; Rev.  Thomas  Hore  (1832-1841),  promoted  to 
.'\nnacurra;  Rev.  John  O’Brien  (1841-1849) ; Rev.  William  Purcell 
(1850-1871) ; and  Rev.  Henry  Williams  (1871-1875).  Rev.  Walter 
Sinnott,  C.C.  from  1834  to  1863,  built  the  present  church  of 
Camolin.  Father  Williams,  Adm.,  was  transferred  as  Adm.  of 
Rathangan  in  April,  1875. 


65 


F 


In  April,  1875,  Bishop  Furlong  divided  Camolin  into  the 
parishes  of  Ballyoughter  and  Craanford,  and'. appointed  Rev. 
Robert  Synnott  (C.C.  of  Wexford  since  1870)  as  first  P.P.  of 
Ballyoughter.  Father  Williams  had  laid  the  foundation  stone  of 
a new  church  at  Ballyoughter,  on  March  12th,  1874,  but  it  was 
left  for  Father  S5mnott  to  complete  and  finish  it  in  1876.  Father 
Synnott  died  on  November  12th,  1886,  aged  57. 

Rev.  Thomas  Staples,  C C.  of  Cloughbawn  since  January, 
1883,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  November  19th,  1886,  and  died  on 
June  19th,  1892,  aged  56. 

Rev.  John  Roice,  C.C.  of  St.  Leonard’s  (Tintern)  since 
January,  1883,  had  a short  pastorate  of  less  than  three  years,  and 
died  on  May  17th,  1895. 

Rev.  Andrew  Kinsella,  C.C.  of  Litter  since  October,  1885, 
was  appointed  P.P.  in  June,  1898,  and  died  on  January  30th,  1900. 

Rev.  Patrick  Doyle,  C.C.  of  the  parish  since  1893,  was 
promoted  to  the  pastorate  on  February  25th,  1900.  His  curate. 
Rev.  Owen  Kehoe  (1900- 1910)  built  the  present  presbytery  of 
Camolin.  Father  Doyle  died  on  September  17th,  1909. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Mernagh,  C.C.  of  Marshalstown  (Newtown- 
barry)  since  August,  1899,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  October  loth, 
1909,  and  is  the  present  Pastor.  He  erected  a new  church  in 
Ballycanew,  which  was  opened  in  September,  1913,  and  w’as 
solemnly  dedicated  by  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Ferns,  on  September 
6th,  1914.  At  its  opening.  Rev.  W.  Fortune  was  appointed 
first  resident  curate.  Ballycanew  includes  the  townlands  of 
Ballinclare,  Ballynakill,  Ballynamona,  Ballymenane,  Ballymoney, 
Ballyfin,  Ballyteigue,  Barnadown,  Boley,  Bolinready,  Craan- 
crower,  Tomgar,  and  Woodpark. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

The  old  church  of  Toome  (Tomb)  is  on  the  slope  of  a hill  on 
the  road  from  Clough  to  Ferns,  a little  over  four  miles  south- 
west of  Gorey.  The  nave  and  choir  arch  still  exist,  and  there  is 
a holy  water  font  outside  the  west  gable.  This  church  was 
dedicated  to  St.  Moling.  Camolin  is  in  the  parish  of  Toome  but 
Camolin  Park  is  in  the  parish  of  Kilcomb.  Of  the  latter  church 


66 


(near  Ballyduff)  there  is  scarcely  a trace,  but  it  was  dedicated  to 
St,  Columcill.  (See  under  Ferns). 

There  is  no  trace  of  the  old  church  of  Ballycanew,  but  a 
modern  church  occupies  its  site. 

Ballyoughter  (baile  uaclidarj,  “ the  upper  town,”  is  in  the 
civil  parish  of  Toome.  St.  Moling  is  the  patron  saint. 

Leskinfere,  or  Clough,  is  memorable  as  the  scene  of  a battle 
in  ’g8.  The  rectory  of  it  was  impropriate  to  Ferns  Abbey,  and 
was  in  the  Deanery  of  Hy  Duagh. 

The  old  church  of  Kilnahue  has  disappeared,  but  there  is  an 
extensive  cemetery  which  marks  the  site.  It  was  also  known  as 
Lamogue.  The  “pattern”  day  was  the  Feast  of  the  Assumption 
(August  15th).  Half  a mile  south-east  is  a holy  w'ell  called  Tober 
Chriost  at  which  “rounds”  were  performed  on  St.  John’s  Eve 
until  the  year  1820. 


67 


Parish  of  Ballygarret 


The  comparatively  modern  parish  of  Ballygarret  (Garret’s  town 
— or  the  town  of  Gerald  Kavanagh)  represents  the  older  parishes 
of  Donaghmore,  Ardamine,  Kiltrisk,  Killenagh,  and  part  of 
Kiltennel.  In  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick  mention  is  made  of  the 
saint's  journey  to  Donaghmore.  The  National  Apostle  “ passed 
from  Limbrick  (Kilcavan)  to  Dubhthach’s  fort  at  Donaghmore 
by  the  sea.”  Ardamine  is  associated  rvith  St.  Aedan ; and 
Kiltennel  was  dedicated  to  St.  Sinchel.  whence  the  name  Cill 
tSinchel.  The  old  church  of  Donaghmore  is  in  the  townland  of 
Ballygarret,  and  is  now  ruinous.  Killenagh  was  appropriated 
to  the  collegiate  church  of  Maynooth. 

In  i8oi  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  as  valued  at 
a year,  with  no  curate.  The  parochial  church  at  Ballygarret  was 
completed  in  1859. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

In  1680  Rev.  Theobald  Butler  was  Pastor  of  the  vast  district 
comprising  Donaghmore,  Ardamine,  Kilmuckridge,  and 
Killenagh,  residing  at  Tinnacross  (parish  of  Kilmuckridge).  He 
registered  himself  in  1704,  and  his  name  appears  as  P.P.  in  1739. 

Rev.  Martin  Cullen  wms  P.P.  from  1740  to  1774.  In  1743  he 
was  reported  to  the  Government  by  Abel  Ram,  and  he  then  lived 
at  Ballydean,  in  the  parish  of  Ardamine.  Bishop  Sweetman 
held  a Visitation  of  the  parish  in  1753,  on  which  occasion  ” all 
was  well  except  his  Purificatorium.”  Some  time  previously  the 
parishes  of  Kilmuckridge  and  Ardamine  were  separated,  the 
former  being  included  in  Litter,  and  the  latter  in  Ballygarret. 
Father  Cullen  died  in  1774. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Redmond  was  P.P.  from  1774  to  1834— a 
pastorate  of  sixty  years.  On  October  loth,  1798,  the  thatched 
chapel  of  Riverchapel  was  burned  by  the  Yeomanry.  Ballygarret 
church  shared  the  same  fate  on  January  15th,  1799.  In  1814  Rev. 


68 


Edmund  Redmond  was  appointed  C.C.,  and,  in  1828,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Suttons  Parish,  being  replaced  by 
Rev.  James  Murphy.  Father  Nicholas  Redmond  died  on  January 
27th,  1834,  aged  92. 

Rev.  James  Harper,  C.C.  of  Bannow  since  August,  1821, 
laboured  as  P.P.  from  February  24th,  1834,  till  his  death  on 
November  2nd,  1838,  aged  50. 

Very  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon)  Stafford,  C.C.  of  Taghmon  from 
1818  to  1838,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  November  6th,  1838,  and 
commenced  to  build  a fine  church  at  Ballygarret.  Unfortunately, 
the  famine  supervened,  and  it  was  not  till  1859  that  the  church 
was  finished.  Canon  Stafford  was  transferred  to  Castlebridge  on 
April  26th,  1851. 

Rev.  James  Cullen,  C.C.  of  Ballymore  since  1843,  was 
appointed  P.P.  in  May,  1851,  but  died  on  December  30th,  1856. 

Rev.  Richard  Barry,  C.C.  of  Newtownbarry  for  twenty-one 
years  (1836-1857),  was  appointed  P.P.  on  April  14th,  1857.  He 
died  on  February  25th,  1865.  During  his  pastorate,  in  1859,  the 
church  of  Ballygarret  was  dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin. 

Rev.  John  Sinnott,  C.C.  of  Ladj^’s  Island  since  September, 
1857,  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  in  March,  1865,  and  laboured 
for  eleven  years.  He  died  on  April  9th,  1S76. 

Rev.  John  L.  Furlong,  Adm.  of  Enniscorthy  since  1868,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  May  12th,  1876.  On  October  22nd,  1876,  the 
first  collection  was  made  for  the  erection  of  the  new  church, 
“ St.  Mary,  Star  of  the  Sea,”  at  Riverchapel,  when  close  on  £‘100 
was  collected  owing  to  the  zeal  of  the  Rev.  John  Furlong,  C.C. 
(1873-1884).  The  church  was  opened  in  1880.  Father  John  L. 
Furlong  was  transferred  to  Gorey  on  September  20th,  1884. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Furlong,  C.C.  of  the  parish  since 
1873,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  October  20th,  1884,  but  lived  less 
than  six  years — as  his  death  took  place,  after  a lingering  illness, 
on  July  9th,  1900. 

Rev.  Matthew  Fanning,  C.C.  of  the  parish  since  1884, 
laboured  as  P.P.  from  August  ist,  1900,  till  his  death  (suddenly, 
in  London)  on  July  ist,  1908. 

Rev.  Laurence  Jones,  C.C.  of  Clearystown  (Rathangan)  since 
1904,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  July  25th,  1908,  and  is  the  present 
Pastor. 


69 


ANTIQUITIES. 


The  Benedictine  Priory  of  Glascarrig,  not  far  from 
Ballygarret,  was  founded  in  1199  by  the  Condons,  Barrys,  and 
Roches,  being  a dependency  on  the  Abbey  of  St  Dogmael’s  in 
Pembrokeshire.  From  the  first  decade  of  the  15th  century  till 
the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries  it  became  thoroughly  Irish, 
so  much  so  that  we  meet  with  a succession  of  Irish  Priors, 
commencing  with  Emer  O’Dunne  in  1401.  Though  the  Priory 
was  dissolved  on  January  27th,  1541,  the  monks  held  possession 
till  after  the  death  of  Queen  Mary.  Dermot  O’Morchoe  (Murphy) 
was  the  last  Prior,  and  he  held  office  till  1558,  when  he  became 
Rector  of  Kiltennel.  On  May  i6th,  1567,  the  Priory  and  lands, 
as  well  as  rectories,  etc.,  were  leased  to  Anthony  Peppard.  In  1794 
Beauchamp  Bagenel  Harvey  purchased  the  place  for  ;£’6,ooo. 
O’ Donovan,  in  1840,  describes  the  remains  of  the  Priory  as  being 
then  utilised  as  a cowhouse,  some  of  the  stones  from  the  old 
foundation  being  incorporated  in  the  building  ! A few  hundred 
yards  south  of  the  site  of  Glascarrig  Priory  is  a holy  well 
dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  Marj/. 

The  Peppards  built  a castle  near  the  Priory,  known  as 
Peppards’  Castle,  but  it  has  long  since  disappeared,  and  is 
replaced  by  a modern  mansion,  in  which  some  of  the  old  stones 
were  incorporated.  There  is  a fine  moat  close  to  Glascarrig, 
generally  known  as  the  Moat  of  Donaghmore. 

Ardamine  is  memorable  as  the  scene  of  the  landing  of  St. 
Aedan  from  Wales.  The  moat  of  Ardamine  is  a high  tumulus 
on  which  is  a stone  cross.  Adjoining  the  moat  is  the  ancient 
cemetery  of  Ardamine. 

Kiltennel — better  known  as  Courtown — is  well  worthy  of  a 
visit.  The  old  church  of  St.  Sinchel  (whose  feast  is  on  June  15th) 
is  at  the  edge  of  the  sea,  about  five  miles  north  of  Gorey.  Part 
of  the  walls  still  remain.  Near  Kiltennel  is  a townland  called 
Kilbride,  where  there  was  formerly  a church,  of  which,  however, 
no  traces  now  remain.  Adjoining  it  is  St.  Bride’s  Well. 

There  was  also  a ruined  church  at  Templederry,  but  no 
traces  now  remain. 


70 


Doxaghmore  Church 
(founded  by  SL.  Palricb) 


Parish  of  Craanford 


The  parish  of  Craanford  is  modern,  and  was  formed  only  in  1875. 
Previously  it  formed  portion  of  Camolin  (see  Parish  of 
Ballyoughter).  It  embraces  the  old  parish  of  Rosminogue, 
with  parts  of  Tomb  and  Kilnahue.  On  September  17th,  1798, 
the  old  chapel  of  Craanford  was  burned  by  the  Orange  faction. 
The  Parish  Registers  go  back  to  the  year  1825.  The  present 
church  was  built  by  Father  John  O’Brien,  in  1844.  He  built  the 
church  of  Monaseed  in  1854,  and  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate 
of  Litter  in  October,  1869. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  John  Keating,  C.C.  of  Piercestown  since  1862,  was 
appointed  first  Parish  Priest  of  Craanford  on  May  i6th,  1875. 
He  never  entered  in  possession,  as  he  died  within  five  weeks  of 
his  promotion,  on  June  23rd. 

Rev.  Francis  Marshall,  C.C.  of  Wexford  since  October,  1866, 
was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Craanford  on  July  20th,  1875. 
His  curate,  Rev.  A.  Kavanagh,  was  transferred  to  Ballyoughter 
in  1879,  and  was  replaced  by  Rev.  R.  Reynolds.  Father  Marshall 
was  transferred  to  the  pastorate  of  Ferns,  on  November  15th,  1880. 

Rev.  James  Kavanagh,  C.C.  of  Crossabeg  since  1877,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  November  i6th,  1880,  and  laboured  for  over 
nineteen  years.  Father  Kavanagh  died  on  April  3rd,  1900. 

Rev.  Michael  Keating,  C.C.  of  Oylegate  since  1885,  was 
promoted  pastor  on  May  4th,  1900,  but  died  suddenly  on  July 
20th,  1901. 

Very  Rev.  James  (Canon)  Murphy,  who  had  laboured  as  P.P. 
of  Clongeen  from  1899  to  1901,  was  transferred  to  Craanford  on 
August  5th,  1901,  and  is  the  present  pastor.  During  his  pastorate 
the  Benedictines  of  Downside  opened  a school  at  Mount  Nebo. 


71 


ANTIQUITIES. 

Rosminogue  (Ros-Menoc,  the  wood  of  St.  Enan  or  St.  Menoc) 
has  a ruined  church  built  on  the  site  of  an  older  church.  In  the 
old  cemeter>'  there  is  a fine  granite  cross  probably  of  the  gth 
century,  but  one  of  the  arms  is  broken  off.  St.  Menoc  is  also  the 
patron  saint  of  Glenealy,  Co.  Wicklow.  George  Ogle  wrote  his 
famous  song  of  “ Molly  Mo  Stoir”  at  Rosminogue,  in  1756. 

Monaseed  was  the  scene  of  a battle  in  ’98,  and  a ballad 
commemorating  the  event  is  still  popular. 

Knockbrandon  is  said  to  be  associated  with  St.  Brendan,  who 
is  also  commemorated  at  Brandon  Hill  and  Brandane,  Co. 
Wexford  (see  Bannow). 


RELIGIOUS  HOUSE. 

Mount  St.  Benedict  was  established  by  Rev.  J.  F.  Sweetman, 
O.S.B.,of  Downside  Abbey,  in  1907.  Previous^',  in  1905,  Father 
Sweetman  had  started  a boarding  school  (with  the  approval  of 
the  Bishop  of  Ferns)  at  Bal^mapierce,  near  Enniscorthy,  but, 
after  two  years,  the  place  was  found  unsuitable.  Mount  Nebo — 
the  former  estate  of  the  Hatton  family,  whose  successor,  in  1795, 
w'as  the  infamous  Hunter  Gowan  of  ’98  notoriety — was  then 
purchased,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  Mount  St.  Benedict. 
Since  1907  the  school  has  made  rapid  progress,  and  there  are  now 
fifty  pupils.  The  original  view  of  Abbot  Ford  of  Downside  was 
to  found  an  Irish  Benedictine  Abbey  with  a school  attached,  and 
Father  Sweetman  looks  forward  to  its  realisation  in  the  near 
future. 


72 


Parish  of  Kilanerin 


Thr  place-name  Kilanerin  is  non-ecclesiastical,  and  is  an 
Anglicised  form  of  Coill  an  iarainn  (pronounced  Kj  leaneeran), 
“■  the  wood  of  the  iron.”  It  represents  the  old  parishes  of  Kilcavan 
and  Kilninor.  Kilcavan  was  dedicated  to  St.  Coemhan— who  is 
also  patron  of  Ardcavan.  His  feast  is  on  June  12th.  Kilninor 
(the  church  of  which  belonged  to  the  Priory  of  Glascarrig)  is 
said  to  derive  its  name  from  nine  brothers,  “ the  Church  of  the 
Nine.”  The  Parochial  Registers  go  back  to  1786,  but  tlie  parish 
as  an  independent  one  only  dates  from  1845.  There  are  churches 
and  schools  at  Kilanerin  and  Ballyfad.  The  present  population 
of  the  parish  is  about  1,250. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Murtagh  O'Byrne,  ordained  in  1678,  by  Venerable 
Oliver  Plunket,  registered  himself  as  Parish  Prie.st  of  Kilcavan 
and  Kilninor,  in  1704.  He  then  resided  at  Limbrick.  All 
through  the  Penal  days  the  priests  of  the  district  found  firm 
protectors  in  the  Esmonde  family  of  Ballynastragh.  As  stated 
under  Gorey,  the  pastors  of  Gorey  mostly  lived  in  Kilanerin  and 
it  was  at  Kilanerin  that  Canon  Sinnott  died  in  April,  1845. 

Very  Rev.  Peter  (Canon)  Doyle,  C.C.  of  Killegny  from  1839 
to  1845,  was  appointed  first  Parish  Priest  of  Kilanerin  under  the 
new  arrangement,  in  August,  1845,  with  Rev.  Gerald  O’Toole  as 
C.C.  In  1863  Canon  Doyle  commenced  to  build  the  present 
parochial  church,  which  was  dedicated  to  S.S.  Peter  and  Paul, 
in  1872,  the  preacher  being  the  famous  F'ather  Tom  Burke,  O.P. 
After  a pastorate  of  over  thirty-eight  years  Canon  Doyle  died  on 
October  22nd,  1883. 


73 


Very  Rev.  William  (Canon)  O’Neill,  C.C.  of  Blackvvater 
since  1868,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  November  25th,  1883,  and  is 
the  present  pastor.  He  completed  the  parish  church,  and 
furnished  it  splendidly.  The  tower  and  spire  add  considerably  to 
the  beauty  of  the  building,  which  is  in  the  pointed  Gothic  style. 
Canon  O’Neill  has  built  a fine  parochial  house,  and  also  a sub- 
stantial house  for  his  curate,  as  well  as  residences  for  the  teachers. 
In  addition,  with  the  able  assistance  of  Rev.  Aidan  Forristal 
(C.C.  of  Kilanerin  from  1893  to  1899),  he  rebuilt  the  chapel — 
dedicated  to  the  Nativity  of  the  Blessed  Virgin — at  Ballyfad,  in 
1899.  The  dedication  ceremony  was  presided  over  bj^  his 
Eminence  Cardinal  Logue  (to  mark  his  sympathy  with  the 
Coolgreany  tenants),  and  was  performed  by  Most  Rev.  Dr. 
Browne,  assisted  by  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Brownrigg. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

Included  in  the  grant  of  land  from  Criffan,  King  of  Leinster, 
to  Dubhthach,  arch  poet  of  Ireland  (one  of  the  first  of  St. 
Patrick’s  converts),  in  recognition  of  the  three  poems  he  had 
written  to  celebrate  the  deeds  of  the  Leinster  monarch,  were 
Limbrick  {Luimneach)  and  the  parish  of  Kilcavan.  The  personal 
name  Kavanagh  was  applied  to  the  MacMurrough  family  from 
their  place  of  fosterage  at  Kilcavan.  The  Hill  of  Tara  is  a 
conspicuous  object  in  this  parish— part  of  the  territory  of  the  poet 
Dubhthach. 

Limbrick  Castle — the  former  seat  of  Lord  Esmonde — was 
burned  in  1649,  on  the  approach  of  Cromwell,  but  one  round 
tower,  about  eighteen  feet  high,  and  two  small  portions  of  the 
outer  walls,  still  remain. 

Not  a trace  remains  of  the  old  church  of  Kilcavan,  but  the 
cemetery  is  occasionally  used.  St.  Coemhan’s  Well  is  nearly 
half  a mile  east  of  the  cemetery,  and  was  formerly  much 
frequented  by  pilgrims,  on  the  feast  of  St.  Coemhan  (June  12th). 
The  present  ruins  are  those  of  the  second  church  built  not  far 
from  the  site  of  the  original  church.  A fragment  still  survives  of 
the  chapel  of  Limbrick,  a later  chapel  of  ease  to  the  church  of 


74 


Kilcavan.  Ballynastragh  (the  splendid  mansion  of  Sir  Thomas 
H.  Grattan  Esmonde,  Bart.,  ALP.)  adjoins  the  ruinous  castle  of 
Limbrick. 

Kilninor  has  a venerable  antiquity.  In  its  cemetery  (town- 
land  of  Tomcoyle)  are  many  interesting  tombs,  including  one  to 
the  memory  of  Rev.  William  Ryan,  Parish  Priest  of  Arklow  for 
twenty-six  years,  who  was  murdered  in  his  house  at  Cooladangan 
by  a Yeoman,  on  the  14th  of  December,  1798,  aged  70.  There  is 
no  trace  of  the  old  church.  However,  about  a hundred  yards 
distant  is  the  holy  well  of  St.  Mary’s,  at  which  “ patterns  ” were 
held  annuall}^  on  September  8th,  till  1798.  Near  the  tomb  of 
Father  Ryan  is  a fine  monument  erected  to  John  Kinsella,  w'ho 
was  murdered  during  the  Land  League  days,  in  1887,  by  the 
“ emergency  ” men. 

Not  far  from  Limbrick  is  a moat  called  Knockavota  (Moat 
Hill),  which  gives  its  name  to  the  townland.  Rev.  Dr.  Hogan,  S.J., 
in  his  Onomasiicon  suggests  that  Knockavota  was  the  inaugura- 
tion place  of  the  MacMurrough.  However,  Keating  distinctly 
mentions  the  place-name  as  Knockavoca  {Cnoc  an  bhogha),  and 
says  that  at  this  place,  near  Ferns,  MacMurrough  was  wont  to 
be  inaugurated  by  O'Nolan.  Knockavota,  near  Gorey,  is  at  least 
nine  miles  from  Ferns,  whereas  Knockavoca  is  less  than  three 
miles  (see  Monageer). 


75 


Parish  of  Litter 


The  present  parish  of  Litter  {Letter — a hillside)  represents  the 
old  parishes  of  Killincooly,  Kilmuckridge,  and  Monamoling. 
Though  O’Donovan  gives  Killincooly  as  derived  from  Cilliii 
cuile — the  little  church  in  the  angle,  yet  the  older  spelling  is 
Killancoll  or  Killancooly,  which  suggests  that  the  true  derivation 
is  more  likely  from  Cill  an  cuil — the  church  of  the  angle,  the 
parish  being  in  reality  divided  into  three  angles.  The  old  church 
was  dedicated  to  St.  Mokeen.  Litter  is  situated  in  the  old  parish 
of  Killincooly,  and  was  formed  in  1789. 

Kilmuckridge  (Cill  Mucraise)  was  dedicated  to  St.  Mochonoc 
or  Canoe  or  Mokeen  (Mochain),  and  in  the  Irish  Martyrologies 
there  is  mention  of  St.  Mochonoc  of  Cill  Mucraise,  whose  feast  is 
February  nth.  O’Donovan  was  of  opinion  that  the  parish 
owed  its  name  to  Cill  Mochuarog,  but  he  added  that  “ there  was 
no  well  or  other  monument  to  determine  who  the  saint  was.” 
Evidently  the  learned  Doctor  forgot  that  Kilmuckridge  townland 
of  291  acres  contains  “ Bride’s  Well”  indicating  an  association 
with  St.  Brigid.  The  rectories  of  “Killankole”  and  “Kilmokrishe” 
were  formerly  impropriated  to  the  Priory  of  Glascarrig,  and  so 
continued  till  1560. 

Monamoling  was  a foundation  of  St.  Moling,  Bishop  of 
Ferns,  and  the  church  was  formerly  a rich  prebend,  belonging  to 
the  Treasurer  of  I'erns. 

The  Parish  Registers  go  back  to  1789.  Bishop  Caulfield  in 
1801  returned  the  parish  of  “ Kilmuckridge  ” as  worth  £\o  a 
year,  having  no  curate. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Thady  Grannel  was  Parish  Priest  of  the  district 
from  1700  to  1715.  He  registered  himself  in  1704,  as  P.P.  of 
Killancooly — residing  at  Tinteskin.  At  the  same  date,  Rev. 
Hugh  Sheil  registered  as  P.P.  of  Kilcormack,  Kx\bxi6.e,,Monamoling 


76 


and  Clone  ; and  Rev.  Theobald  Butler  registered  as  P.F.  of 
Donaghmore,  Ardamine,  Kilmocris  and  Killenagh. 

There  is  a lacuna  from  1715  to  1750,  but  in  the  latter  year 
Father  Matthew  Redmond  was  P.P.  Bishop  Sweetman  made 
a visitation  of  the  parish  on  May  20th,  1753.  About  the  year 
1770  Father  Redmond  built  a thatched  chapel  at  Litter,  and  ere 
his  death,  in  1789,  was  presented  with  a bell  which  had  belonged  to 
the  ship  “ Welcome  Home,”  wrecked  near  Kilmuckridge  in  1766. 
This  bell,  which  hung  from  an  old  tree  close  by  the  chapel,  was 
for  long  used  for  summoning  the  parishioners  to  Holy  Mass. 

Rev.  Michael  Lacy  was  appointed  P.P.  of  Litter  in  1789. 
His  pastorate  was  embittered  by  the  sad  scenes  of  ’98,  and  he  did 
not  long  survive  the  troubles  of  the  period.  He  rebuilt  the 
church  of  Litter  in  1796,  and  was  permitted  to  use  the  stones  of 
the  ruinous  church  of  Killincooly.  His  death  occurred  on 
December  31st,  1800. 

Rev.  Mark  Cooney,  C.C.,  of  Tagoat  since  1796,  was  appointed 
P.P.  on  January  17th,  i8or,  but  was  transferred  to  Tagoat 
in  1803. 

Rev.  Patrick  Stafford  was  P.P.  from  1803  to  1823.  In  1816 
he  fell  into  ill-health,  and  Rev.  James  Murphy  was  appointed 
Adm.  Father  Stafford  died  in  April,  1823. 

Rev.  James  Murphy  (Adm.  since  October,  1816)  was  appointed 
P.P.  on  April  22nd,  1823,  with  Rev.  Thomas  Devereux  as  C.C., 
whose  successor,  in  1825,  was  Rev.  Richard  Usher.  Father 
Murphy  died  on  September  24th,  1828. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Furlong,  Adm.  of  Camolin  since  1819,  was 
promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Litter  in  October,  1828.  His 
curate,  Rev.  Walter  Sinnott  (1834-1850)  built  a neat  church  at 
Monamoling,  and  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Annacurra 
in  November,  1850.  Father  Furlong  was  transferred  to  Crossabeg 
on  February  3rd,  1840.  (See  Crossabeg). 

Rev.  James  Sinnott,  who  had  laboured  on  the  Newfoundland 
mission,  and  w'ho  was  C.C.  of  Enniscorthy  from  1832  to  1840,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  February  3rd,  1840,  and  had  a pastorate  of 
twenty-nine  years.  He  enlarged  and  beautified  the  church  of 
Kilmuckridge  in  1842,  and  he  also  erected  the  present  parochial 
house,  adjoining  the  church.  His  curate  from  December,  1866, 


77 


to  1868,  was  Rev.  Mark  O’Gorman — now  P.P.  of  Kilmore, 
Father  Sinnott  died  in  the  early  autumn  of  1869,  and  was 
interred,  at  his  own  request,  with  his  elder  brother,  Rev.  Dr. 
John  Sinnott,  in  Wexford. 

Rev.  John  O’Brien,  C.C.  of  Camolin  since  1841,  was  promoted 
to  the  pastorate  in  October,  1S69.  He  died  on  March  14th,  1889. 

Very  Rev.  Denis  (Canon)  O’Connor,  Adm.  of  Enniscorthy 
since  1876,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  April  9th,  1889.  He  laboured 
zealously  for  over  eleven  j^ears,  and,  in  September,  1900,  was 
transferred  to  Ferns. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Browne,  C.C.  of  Ramsgrange  from 
1887  to  1893,  and  of  Glynn  from  1893-1900,  was  promoted  P.P.  to 
Litter  on  September  loth,  1900,  and  is  the  present  Pastor.  During 
his  pastorate  many  improvements  have  been  effected.  In  the 
Spring  of  1916  a curate’s  house  was  built  by  Rev,  T.  Moran,  at 
Kilmuckridge,  the  funds  for  which  were  mainly  realised  from  the 
proceeds  of  a Feis  held  on  July  25th,  1915. 

ANTIQUITIES. 

Killincooly  old  church  was  pulled  down  in  1795,  and  its 
stones  were  utilised  in  the  building  of  the  Catholic  church  of 
Litter  (1796).  It  was  forty-five  feet  long  by  eighteen  feet  in 
breadth.  Adjoining  the  site  is  St.  Mokeen’s  Well,  at  which 
“patterns”  were  wmnt  to  be  held  on  September  28th  till  1825. 
O’Donovan  calls  it  St.  Michael’s  Well,  and  he  imagined  that  St. 
Michael  was  the  Patron,  but  history  and  tradition  agree  in  giving 
St.  Mochonoc  (Canoe)  as  the  tutelary  guardian,  whose  feast  day 
is  September  28th,  and  who  is  also  Patron  of  Kilmacanoge  near 
Bray.* 

East  of  the  Protestant  church  of  Kilmuckridge  is  a large 
moat,  on  the  summit  of  a hillock  in  the  townland  of  Kilmuckridge. 

Morris  Castle,  near  the  sea,  was  a former  stronghold  of  the 
O’Morchoes.  The  ruins  of  Castle  Annesley  recall  historical 
associations.  North-west  of  Morris  Castle  is  a fort  called 
Dundrum,  with  two  raths.  In  1641  Turlogh  O’Morchoe  was 
Lord  of  Dundrum. 

‘Under  date  of  September  28th,  O’Hanlon  gives  a short  notice  of  a St. 
Machon,  a disciple  of  St.  Cadoc.  St.  Mochain  is  said  to  have  been  a brother  of 
St.  Kevin  of  Glendalough.  He  is  commemorated  at  Jamestown,  near  Stepaside, 
Co.  Dublin. 

78 


Parish  of  Tomacork, 


The  present  parish  of  Tomacork  (Tuaim  Coirce — the  mound  of 
the  oats)  was  formed  at  the  close  of  the  i8th  century,  and 
represents  the  old  parish  of  Carnew  and  part  of  Crosspatrick.  It 
is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Clonegal,  Clonmore,  Ballyconnell, 
and  Kilquiggan ; on  the  south  by  Kilanerin,  Craanford,  and 
Kilrush ; on  the  east  by  Killaveney ; and  on  the  west  by 
Clonegal.  In  olden  days  Carnew  [Cairn  buidhe — the  yellow 
cairn)  was  in  the  Deanery  of  Shillelagh,  and  the  parish  was 
dedicated  to  St.  Brigid.  In  1760  the  parish  was  known  as 
Ballyellis. 

The  Register  of  Baptisms  goes  back  to  1785,  and  the  Marriage 
Register  begins  with  the  year  1793.  Bishop  Caulfield,  in  1801, 
returned  the  parish  of  “ Coolefancy”  as  valued  at  £^0,  with  no 
curate.  The  curacy  is  at  Coolfancy,  the  name  of  which  is  an 
Anglicised  corruption  of  Coolfassy,  “ the  angle  of  the  waste.” 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Daniel  Doyle  was  P.P.  of  “ Carnew’”  from  1700  to  1746. 
He  registered  himself,  in  1704,  and  he  was  then  living  at 
Askamore.  In  1739  he  subscribed  to  a parochial  fund. 

Very  Rev.  Patrick  (Canon)  Cullen  was  appointed  P.P.  on 
April  2nd,  1767 — the  parish  being  described  as  “ Ballyellis  cum 
annexis.”  He  appears  as  Precentor  of  Ferns  in  1785,  and  he  died 
in  1787. 

Rev.  Francis  Fitzgerald  was  P.P.  from  1787  to  1811.  On 
May  26th,  1793,  Rev.  John  Kavanagh  was  sent  from  Kilrush  as 
C.C.  of  Tomacork.  Father  Fitzgerald’s  lot  was  cast  during  the 
troubled  period  of  ’98,  and  his  parish  was  one  of  the  “ storm 
centres.”  He  built  the  church  of  Tomacork  in  1794. 

Very  Rev  Michael  (Canon)  Murphy,  a native  of  Gibber- 
patrick,  a student  of  Lisbon,  and  curate  of  Cushinstown  from 


79 


i8o4  to  i8ii,  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Tomacork,  in 
iSii,  and  laboured  zealously  for  thirty-six  years.  Rev.  Clement 
Pettit  was  C.C.  from  i8i6  to  1832,  when  he  was  made  P.P.  of 
Oylegate.  In  1826,  Earl  Fitzwilliam  gave  ;rioo  towards 
rebuilding  the  church  of  Tomacork.  Canon  Murphy  died  on 
April  28th,  1847,  aged  71. 

Very  Rev.  James  (Canon)  Murphy,  C.C.  of  Ballygarret  since 
1828,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  May  29th,  1847,  and  had  a pastorate 
of  twenty-five  years.  The  present  church  of  Coolfancy  was 
built  by  Rev.  Patrick  Parker,  who  was  C.C.  from  1857  to  1864. 
Canon  Murphy  died  October  i8th,  1872. 

Rev.  Loughlin  Druhan,  C.C.  of  Taghmon  since  Maj*,  1862, 
was  appointed  P.P.  in  November,  1872,  and,  after  a pastorate  of 
almost  seven  years,  was  transferred  to  Suttons  Parish  on 
September  15th,  1879. 

Rev.  Walter  Sinnott  fa  native  of  Ballybough)  C.C.  of 
Cloughbawn  from  1865  to  1877,  and  of  Annacurra  since  1877,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  September  21st,  1879,  and  had  a pastorate  of 
over  thirty-one  years.  He  died  on  March  26th,  1911,  aged  84. 

Rev.  James  Prandy,  C.C.  of  New  Ross  since  1896,  was 
promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Tomacork  on  April  loth,  1911,  and 
is  the  present  pastor. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

In  the  townland  of  Tombrian  is  an  ancient  cemetery  called 
b}^  the  natives  Aughteduff. 

St.  Brigid’s  cemetery  and  St.  Brigid’s  W'ell  are  to  be  seen 
near  Askamore. 

There  are  some  interesting  Catholic  tombs  in  the  Protestant 
cemetery  of  Carnew. 

Carnew  Castle  dates  from  the  second  quarter  of  the  17th 
century  when  the  place  was  acquired  by  Calcot  Chambre, 
whose  daughter,  Mary,  married  Edward,  Lord  Brabazon  (after- 
wards second  Earl  of  Meath),  in  1632,  thus  bringing  Carnew  into 
the  Meath  family.  In  an  angle  in  the  garden  wall  there  is  a fine 
round  tower,  which  is  said  to  have  been  erected  by  one  of  the 
O’Toole  family.  Carnew  was  acquired  by  the  Earl  of  Strafford, 
and  ultimately  passed  to  the  Fitzwilliam  family.  Students  of 
’98  history  need  not  be  reminded  of  the  massacre  at  Carnew. 


80 


Deanery  of  New  Ross 


1.  New  Ross. 

2.  Adamstown. 

3.  Clongeen. 

4.  Cushenstown. 


Parishes  of  ; 

6 
7 


Ramsgrange. 
Buttons. 
Templetown. 
T intern. 


'1 


Parish  of  New  Ross 


^"T^HE  name  of  this  parish  is  a misnomer,  as  it  was  known  as 
" New”  Ross  as  far  back  as  120S,  in  order  to  distinguish  it 
from  “Old”  Ross.  The  district  around  was  known  as 
Ros-mic-Triiin.  It  is  fairly  certain  that  “the  town  of  the  new 
bridge”  was  founded  by  Countess  Isabelle  de  Clare,  who  married 
William  Marshal,  Earl  of  Pembroke.  New  Ross  was  a most 
important  seaport  from  1215  to  1315,  but  the  decline  of  its 
commercial  greatness  was  traditionally  regarded  as  due  to  a 
curse  on  the  town  owing  to  the  murder  of  some  Crutched  Friars 
by  the  townsfolk.  The  churches  of  St.  Evin  and  of  St.  Mary  were 
in  the  patronage  of  the  Prior  of  St.  John’s,  Kilkenny,  who 
retained  the  right  of  presentation  from  1227  to  1540.  St.  Evin's 
was  the  old  Celtic  church,  but  St.  Mary’s  was  built  by  William 
Marshal  circa  1212.  The  chapel  of  St.  Saviour’s  (which  occupied 
the  site  of  the  Trinity  Almshouses)  was  granted  to  Dunbrody 
Abbey  in  1370.  There  was  also  a chapel  of  St.  Michael,  the  site 
of  which  may  still  be  seen  in  the  angle  between  Michael  Street 
and  Michael’s  Lane  (now  Barrack  Lane).  In  addition,  the 
Franciscan  Friars  and  the  Augustinian  Friars  obtained  founda- 
tions in  New  Ross  ere  the  close  of  the  13th  century.  Bishop 
Barret,  in  1408,  transferred  the  sedes  episcopalis  to  New  Ross,  and 
he  restored  and  beautified  the  parochial  church  of  St.  Mary’.s, 
between  the  years  1409-1413.  Thomas  Wyatt  was  Vicar  of  New 
Ross  from  1399  to  1420.  After  the  dissolution  of  St.  John’s  Prior}^ 
Kilkenny,  W^alter  Cowley  was  leased  the  Rector}^  of  New  Ross, 
on  April  6th,  1541,  but  Catholic  Vicars  laboured  as  Pastors  until 
1576.  In  1578  the  church  of  St.  Michael  was  given  over  as  the 
chapel  attached  to  the  Hospital  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  the 
appointment  of  a Catholic  chaplain  was  connived  at. 


83 


In  1603  the  church  of  St  Mary’s  was  “ reconciled”  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  James  White  of  Waterford.  Father  William  Barrick 
— who  had  temporised  for  some  years — and  had  acted  as 
Protestant  Vicar  of  New'  Ross  (1576-1603) — openly  avowed  the 
old  faith  in  1603,  and  resumed  his  pastorship.  He  ended  his  days 
in  1618  in  the  house  of  William  Bennet,  w^ho  died  on  April  loth, 
1620. 

Bishop  Ram,  in  his  Report  of  1612,  mentions—in  addition  to 
Father  Barrick — the  Rev.  James  Walshe  (an  alias  for  Rev.  Dr. 
O’Druhan),  Rev.  Matthew  Roche,  Rev.  David  Doyle,  Rev. 
Richard  Fitzharris,  Rev.  J.  Dormer,  and  Rev.  William  Doyle, 
as  labouring  in  the  vicinitj^  of  New  Ross. 

The  Jesuits,  too,  opened  a “ Residence”  at  New  Ross  in  1626, 
but  their  mission  had  a sporadic  existence  till  1648,  wdien  Father 
Maurice  O’Connell  arrived  and  was  given  the  church  of  St. 
Michael.  In  1649  Rev.  Edward  Archer  was  Superior  ; and  his 
co-w'orker,  Father  Gregor}^  Dowdall,  died  of  the  plague  on 
August  9th,  1650.  Father  Stephen  Gelosse  laboured  from  1650  to 
1660,  and  in  the  latter  year  he  opened  a school  w'hich  acquired  a 
considerable  reputation  till  1670,  w'hen  it  w’as  suppressed.  He 
re-opened  it,  however,  in  1673,  but,  in  1676,  it  was  finally  closed. 
Notwithstanding,  he  continued  his  ministrations  in  the  locality, 
for  in  1678  an  official  report  gives  the  information  that  “Mr. 
Jealous  {sic)  then  resided  near  Rosse  in  the  County  of  Wexford.” 
In  1687-1690  the  church  of  St.  Mary’s  w^as  again  used  by  the 
Catholics. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Veiy  Rev.  Luke  Wadding  was  P.P.  from  1649  to  1688 — being 
also  Vicar  General  of  Ferns.  Although  preconised  as  Coadjutor 
Bishop  of  Ferns  on  May  12th,  1671,  the  circumstances  of  the  time 
w'ere  unfavourable,  and  his  consecration  did  not  take  place  till 
August  15th,  1683.  He  held  his  parish  in  commendam  till  1688, 
and  he  died  on  December  31st,  1691. 

Rev.  John  O’Connor  succeeded  Bishop  Wadding  as  P.P.  of 
New  Ross  in  1688.  He  registered  himself  in  1704  as  “ Parish 
Priest  of  St.  Marj^’s  in  New  Ross,”  and  he  gave  his  age  as  52, 
having  been  ordained  in  Switzerland  in  1687.  Not  trace  of  him 


84 


appears  after  the  year  1710.  The  church  of  vSt.  Michael  and  the 
cemetery  were  given  by  the  Corporation  “ for  barracks  to  be 
built  on,”  on  November  30th,  1700. 

Most  Rev.  Dr.  John  Verdon,  Bishop  of  Ferns,  held  the  parish 
in  commendam  from  1711  to  1728,  mostlj^  residing  at  Nash.  He 
died  in  February,  1728.  During  his  pastorate  so  great  was  the 
persecution  that  the  church  had  to  be  closed.  This  we  learn  from 
a letter  written  by  Colonel  Edwards,  on  June  i8th,  1714  “ The 

Mass-house  of  Ross  is  rayld  up  and  the  key  left  with  the  Suffrein.” 

Ver)^  Rev.  James  (Canon)  Nowlan  was  Pari.sh  Priest  from 
1729  to  1771.  Notwithstanding  the  Penal  Laws,  the  Catholics  of 
New  Ross,  in  1730,  are  described  in  a Protestant  Memorial  as 
“ violent  Papists.”  On  March  3th,  1743-4,  the  Sovereign  of  Ross, 
J.  Leigh,  wrote  to  the  Lord  Lieutenant  that  there  was  “ one  Parish 
chappel”  in  New  Ross.  He  adds  : — “ James  Nowlan,  parish  priest, 
and  residing  in  his  chappel.”  Bishop  Sweetman,  in  his  Visitation 
of  the  parish,  in  1753,  praises  the  pastorate  of  Canon  Nowlan,  and 
notes  that  Father  Martin  Redmond  preached  a good  Irish  sermon, 
which  he  had  previously  delivered  at  Ballyphilip,  and  at 
Garrane. 

Very  Rev.  James  Caulfield  was  appointed  P.P.  in  1771,  and 
was  made  Vicar  General  in  1772.  Although  consecrated 
Coadjutor  Bishop,  in  1782,  he  was  permitted  by  the  Holy  See  to 
hold  New  Ross  in  comynendam,  but,  on  the  death  of  Bishop 
Sweetman,  he  removed  to  Wexford,  in  1786.  He  commenced  the 
present  parish  Registers  in  1772. 

Very  Rev.  William  Chapman  was  appointed  P.P.  in  1786. 
He  proved  a singularly  able  pastor,  and  laboured  zealously  for 
thirty-two  years,  when  he  retired.  At  the  close  of  the  i8th 
century  the  old  Catholic  parochial  church  (situated  on  the  site 
now  occupied  by  the  Augustinian  F'riary  church)  was  becoming 
ruinous  and  inconvenient,  and,  in  1804,  the  good  pastor — made 
Dean  of  Ferns  in  1801 — obtained  a plot  of  ground  from  Mr. 
Glascott  (at  £"40  a year),  in  South  Street,  where  he  erected  a 
commodious  temple,  opposite  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  Tottenham 
(now  the  Convent  of  Mercy).  The  church  was  opened  in  1806. 
Dean  Chapman  gave  up  the  pastoral  care  in  1818.  After  a short 
period  as  chaplain  to  the  Carmelite  Nuns  (whom  he  introduced 


in  1817)  he  retired  to  his  nephew's  home  in  Ringwood,  Co. 
Kilkenny,  where  he  died  on  September  i8th,  1828.  He  was  buried 
at  Churchtown,  and  the  great  “ J.K.L.”  wrote  a brief  epitaph  for 
the  tomb  of  his  friend  as  follows  : — “ Sacred  to  the  memory  of 
the  Very  Rev.  Dean  Chapman,  who  died  on  the  i8th  of 
September,  1828,  aged  70  years.  May  his  soul  rest  in  peace.” 

Very  Rev.  Thomas  Doyle  (translated  from  Taghmon)  was 
appointed  P.P.  in  1818,  and  was  elected  dignissimus  for  the 
Bishopric  of  Ferns  in  same  year.  He  was  subsequently  made 
Dean  of  Ferns  and  V.G.  He  died  on  August  15th,  1830,  aged  74, 
and  was  buried  at  Courthoyle  (see  under  Adamstown). 

Very  Rev.  William  Brennan  (C.C.  of  Ross  since  1816) 
laboured  from  1830  to  1846.  He  never  spared  himself  during  the 
epidemics  of  cholera  and  fever  in  1832  and  1836,  and  the 
tempestuous  season  of  1839.  He  welcomed  Father  Mathew  to 
Ross  in  April,  1840,  and  encouraged  temperance.  Worn  out  with 
labours  he  passed  av/ay  peacefulh^  on  September  6th,  1846,  aged 
56,  and  was  interred  in  Ballybrennan.  There  is  a line  cenotaph 
to  his  memory  in  the  parish  church. 

Very  Rev.  Patrick  Murphy  (C.C.  of  the  parish  since  1827) 
had  a short  pastorate  of  three  years.  He  died  after  two  days’ 
illness  on  August  30th,  1849.  A few  months  previously  Rev. 
George  Chapman,  C.C. — nephew  of  Dean  Chapman— also  died 
of  fever  contracted  in  the  discharge  of  duty,  and  was  buried  in 
Churchtown. 

Very  Rev.  James  Walshe  (transferred  from  Newtownbarry) 
was  appointed  P.P.  in  1849.  He  was  a holy  and  zealous  labourer 
in  the  vineyard,  and  collected  ;^66o  towards  the  building  of  a 
new  parish  church.  On  September  25th,  i860,  he  was  transferred 
to  Lady’s  Island. 

Very  Rev.  Denis  (Canon)  Kenny  (P.P.  of  Crossabeg)  was 
P.P.  from  October,  i860,  till  his  death,  on  September  5th,  1875. 
He  continued  the  collection  for  a new  church,  but  had  t ospend 
much  of  the  money  in  repairing  the  old  church,  in  paying  the 
rent  (£40  a 3'ear),  and  in  building  schools  in  Michael  Street. 

Ver}^  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Kirwan,  V.F.  (P.P.  of  Tagoat), 
laboured  zealously  for  thirteen  years.  The  idea  of  building  the 
new  church  Avas  abandoned  for  the  time  being,  and  Canon 


86 


Kirwan  contented  himself  with  erecting  a porch  and  a belfry, 
and  improving  the  old  church.  However,  he  purchased  the  site 
of  the  present  church  for  £800.  Canon  Kirwan  died  April  22nd, 
1888,  aged  66. 

Very  Rev.  Michael  Kavanagh,  D.D.,  P.P.,  V.G.,  succeeded  in 
May,  1888.  He  had  been  President  of  St.  Peter’s  College,  Wexford, 
from  1873  to  1888.  From  the  start  he  set  to  work  to  erect  a church 
worthy  of  the  town,  and  on  September  29th,  1895,  the  foundation 
stone  was  laid  of  the  present  magnificent  temple  (designed  by 
Walter  Doolin),  which  was  opened  in  1902  by  Bishop  Browne — 
the  preacher  being  the  late  Father  Conmee,  S.J.  During 
his  pastorate  many  important  ecclesiastical  buildings  were 
erected,  e.g.,  the  residence  of  the  Christian  Brothers  in  1890  ; the 
Good  Shepherd  Convent  Chapel  and  the  Irishtown  Chapel  in 
1892 ; the  Mercy  Convent  National  Schools,  in  1895 ; the 
conversion  of  the  old  parish  church  into  a Concert  Hall,  in  1903  ; 
and  the  splendid  Presbytery,  in  1907.  The  cost  of  these  and 
other  works  amounted  to  over  £40,000 — surely  an  imperishable 
monument  to  the  tireless  zeal  of  Canon  Kavanagh— who  was 
raised  to  the  dignity  of  Dean  of  Ferns  and  V.G.,  in  1907 — and  to 
the  marvellous  generosity  of  his  flock.  His  silver  jubilee  as 
Pastor  was  suitably  commemorated  in  1913.  Dean  Kavanagh 
died,  universally  regretted,  on  November  21st,  1915. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

St.  Mary’s  Church  dates  from  circa  1212,  and  is  evidently  of 
the  same  date  and  style  of  architecture  as  St.  John’s,  Kilkenny. 
It  was  never  a monastic  church,  nor  was  it  subject  to  Dunbrody 
Abbey  : it  was  the  parish  church  of  New  Ross.  On  the  whole, 
this  beautiful  structure  has  withstood  the  wrack  of  time.  The 
monument  erected  to  the  mythical  Rose  Mac  Crune  (in  reality 
Ros-mic-truin,  the  Irish  name  of  the  town)  in  the  north  transept, 
is  most  probably  that  of  Simon  Gaunter  who  was  Sovereign  of 
Ross  in  1288-9,  while  another  curious  old  monument  inscribed: 
“ Hie  jacet  Rogerus  Clericus,”  may  have  been  erected  to  Roger 
the  Clerk,  who  was  Sovereign  in  1282.  Beautiful,  also,  are  the 
monuments  of  Patrick  Conway  (1587) ; of  Francis  Alan  (1577) ; of 


87 


Peter  Butler  ( 1 590);  and  of  Mrs.  Tottenham  (1769),  sculptured  by  Van 
Nost.  The  heraldic  inscription  on  the  tomb  of  Matthew  Dormer 
(1648)  bears  testimony  to  the  fact  that  this  worthy  citizen  was  a 
man  “Justus  ac  pins  necnon  Catholicae  religionis  fidelis  filius.” 
Bisliop  Barret  erected  the  south  transept  of  this  church,  and 
beautified  it  in  1408.  Robert  Leigh,  of  Rosegarland,  describes 
the  church  in  1684  as  “ one  of  the  largest  parish  churches  in 
Ireland,  upon  the  very  top  of  the  said  hill  or  rock,  called  Our 
Lady's  Church,  and  joins  to  a large  high  steeple  crowned  with 
lead.”  ....  He  adds  that  “ the  bells  and  a fair  payer  of  organs 
were  stolen  by  the  Cromwellians.  In  1636  said  leads  were 
consumed  by  an  accidental  fire.”  On  the  i8th  of  October,  1763, 
the  steeple  fell,  and  a sum  of  £"403  was  granted  by  the  Corporation 
to  rebuild  it.  At  length,  in  1812,  the  nave  was  taken  down  to 
make  room  for  the  present  Protestant  church,  and  the  old  church 
has  since  been  roofless. 

There  are  now  no  traces  of  the  once  flourishing  Franciscan 
and  Augustinian  Friaries.  The  former  house  was  founded  in 
1276  by  Roger  Bygod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  then  Lord  of  the  Manor, 
and  was  endowed  by  Sir  John  Devereux,  in  1266— the  site  having 
been  the  Priory  of  Crutched  Friars,  which  \\-as  confiscated  in  1270. 
The  Franciscan  Friary  was  dissolved  in  1540,  but  their  representa- 
tives continued  to  labour  in  the  town  till  1760,  and  titular 
guardians  were  appointed  as  late  as  1848.  The  old  Friary  was 
pulled  down  in  1732,  and  was  subsequently  converted  into  stores. 
In  recent  years  several  13th-century  stone  coffins  were  found 
during  excavations  in  the  cemetery  attached  to  the  foundation. 

The  Augustinian  Friary  was  founded  by  William  Fitz  John 
Roche  in  1320  and  flourished  till  the  dissolution  in  1540.  Not  a 
trace  of  it  has  survived,  but  its  site  is  now  occupied  by  a coal 
yard  in  South  Street,  in  the  adjoining  wall  of  which  are  some 
stones  taken  from  the  Friary  church. 

Sir  John  Ivory’s  Free  School,  founded  in  1713,  is  built  on  the 
site  of  St.  Abban’s  monastery,  inside  the  old  North  Gate. 

The  beautiful  gates  of  New  Ross  remained  as  an  evidence  of 
the  importance  of  the  town  as  late  as  1798.  Vandalism  began  in 
1713  when  the  Corporation  ordered  that  “ so  much  of  the  Maiden 
Tower  as  may  be  conveniently  spared  be  pulled  down  for  the  use 


88 


of  the  church,  to  build  a wall  up  in  the  south  aisle."  The  famous 
Bewley  or  Three  Bullet  Gate  was  “ taken  down  in  1845  by 
consent  of  the  Town  Commissioners,”  and  the  Priory  Gate  has 
also  gone,  while  more  recently  the  magnificent  Fair  (Market) 
Gate,  or  Earl's  Gate,  was  demolished. 

The  Trinity  Alms  Houses  (Hospital)  date  from  1578,  and,  in 
1588,  the  churches  of  St.  Saviour  and  St.  Michael  were  transferred 
to  the  new  foundation.  Colonel  Tottenham  of  Ballycurry  has 
the  original  seal  of  the  Hospital,  with  the  date  1587,  and  the 
initials  of  the  first  master,  G.C.,  i.e.,  George  Conway.  The 
present  Trinity  Hospital  was  restored  in  1772.  It  accommodates 
fourteen  poor  women. 

Mountgarret  Castle  occupies  a commanding  site  overlooking 
the  town,  and  was  rebuilt  by  Bishop  Barret  in  1409 ; the  original 
castle  was  built  by  Roger  Bygod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  in  1300.  The 
tower  is  in  fair  preservation. 

RELIGIOUS  HOUSES. 

I. — Augustinian  Friary. 

After  the  dissolution  of  the  Augustinian  P'riary  in  1540,  the 
Order  gradually  died  out  in  New  Ross.  It  was  revived  in  1685 
under  Rev.  Edmund  Healy,  who  rvas  Prior  from  1685  to  1688, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  Callan.  In  1720  a modest  thatched 
chapel  was  built  on  the  hill,  opposite  the  site  of  the  present 
church  and  convent,  by  Rev.  Joseph  Rossiter,  who  was  sent  to 
Ross  in  1708.  This  good  Friar  had  two  fellow- workers  in  1740, 
namely.  Rev.  Martin  O’Connor  and  Rev.  Joseph  Cannon,  and  he 
died  on  February  i8th,  1754,  aged  73.  His  nephew.  Rev.  Joseph 
Rossiter  (ordained  at  Paris  in  1757)  was  Prior  from  1760  to  1803, 
and  he  slated  the  old  chapel  in  1780.  In  17S5  the  community 
consisted  of  Rev.  Joseph  Rossiter  (Prior),  Revs.  Philip  Crane, 
John  Rossiter,  and  John  Crane. 

Rev.  John  Crane  was  Prior  from  1803  to  1811.  During  his 
time,  in  1806,  his  brother.  Rev.  Philip  Crane,  obtained  from  Mr. 
Tottenham  the  old  Catholic  parish  church — then  recently  vacated 
by  Dean  Chapman— for  ever,  at  the  nominal  rent  of  ten  shillings 
a year.  This  church  continued  to  be  used  by  the  Friars  till  1830. 
Father  John  Crane  was  again  Prior  from  1815  to  1826,  and  he 
died  on  IMay  25th,  1826,  aged  72.  From  1803  to  1816  the  Fathers 


89 


had  a college  (mainly  intended  for  the  students  of  the  Irish 
Province)  of  which  Rev.  Philip  Crane  was  Principal,  and  Rev. 
James  Doyle  (“  J.K.L.”)  Assistant. 

Rev.  Philip  Crane  (who  was  Provincial  from  1807  to  1811, 
and  again  from  1819  to  1823)  was  Prior  of  New  Ross  from  1811  to 
1815.  He  died  on  July  28th,  1823,  and  his  funeral  oration  was 
preached  by  Bishop  Doyle. 

Rev.  James  Crane  was  Prior  from  1826  to  1855,  and  again 
from  1855  to  1859.  He  built  the  present  church  and  convent 
between  the  years  1830-1845,  and  re-established  the  college. 
During  his  term  of  office  the  church  was  consecrated  by  the 
Right  Rev.  Dr.  O’Connor,  O.S.A.,  on  August  31st,  1856 

The  following  is  the  list  of  Priors  from  1859  to  1915  : — 

1859-1863.  Very  Rev.  Patrick  Crane. 

1863-1871.  Very  Rev.  James  Crane. 

1871-1875.  Very  Rev.  Patrick  Moran. 

1875-1879.  Very  Rev.  R.  O’Keeffe. 

1879-1883.  Very  Rev.  J.  Lynch. 

1883-1891.  Very  Rev.  J.  Furlong. 

1891-1895.  Very  Rev  Patrick  O’Brien. 

1895-1899.  Very  Rev.  John  Condon. 

1899-1903.  Very  Rev.  John  Hunt. 

1903-1907.  Very  Rev  C.  T.  Cowman. 

1907-1911.  Very  Rev.  J.  D.  Nolan. 

1911-1914.  Very  Rev.  J.  A.  Heavey 

(made  Bishop  of  North  Queensland). 

1914- 1915.  Very  Rev.  E.  O’Leary. 

1915.  Very  Rev.  John  Roche. 


Between  1883  and  1891  Father  Furlong  effected  considerable 
improvements  in  the  church,  convent,  schools,  and  grounds.  The 
school,  built  at  a cost  of  £'1,000,  was  opened  on  September  8th, 
1890,  and  serves  as  a seminary  for  Augustinian  novices.  A 
boarding  house  was  added  in  1909,  and  is  well  equipped. 


11. — Car.melite  Convent. 

The  Carmelite  Convent  of  New  Ross  was  founded,  in  1817, 
and  was  a filiation  from  Ranelagh  (Dublin).  The  foundress  was 
Mother  Teresa  Kavanagh,  daughter  of  Dr.  George  Kavanagh*  of 

*Dr.  George  Kavanagh,  M.D.,  died  on  Januar}’^  28th,  1810,  aged  70. 

90 


New  Ross  (who,  with  his  son,  had  become  a Protestant),  as  a 
reparation  for  her  father's  defection  from  the  faith.  She  was 
helped  by  her  relative,  Dean  Chapman,  who  secured  a residence, 
with  the  sanction  of  the  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Ryan — the  Bishop 
stipulating  that  the  Nuns  should  take  over  the  religious  and 
secular  instruction  of  female  poor  children.  Mother  Teresa-- 
accompanied  by  the  Vicar  Provincial  of  the  Carmelite  Order  in 
Ireland,  two  professed  Religious,  and  twm  postulants — took  formal 
possession  of  the  temporary  convent  on  July  iSth,  1817,  and,  on 
Sunda5%  July  20th  (the  Feast  of  St.  Elias),  the  first  Mass  was 
celebrated  and  the  convent  blessed  and  dedicated  to  Our  Lady 
of  Mount  Carmel. 

In  1818,  Dean  Chapman  resigned  the  parish  of  New  Ross  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  two  rooms  of  the  convent,  walled  off  and 
set  apart  for  his  use.  He  also  became  chaplain  to  the  Nuns,  but, 
owing  to  his  delicate  state  of  health  he  had  to  retire  almost 
immediately  from  the  post,  which  was  then  taken  up  by  the 
Augustinian  Fathers,  who  gratuitously  gave  their  services  for 
eighteen  years.  Father  Philip  Crane,  O.S.A.,  acted  as  Confessor 
from  1818  till  his  death,  in  1823. 

A new  convent  (including  chapel  and  school)  was  begun  in 
1819,  and  was  solemnly  blessed  by  Bishop  Keating,  in  1823.  An 
organ — built  by  Dreaper  of  Waterford — was  erected  in  1824,  and 
is  still  in  use. 

In  1833  an  Industrial  School  was  opened  to  provide  employ- 
ment for  the  girls  and  women  of  the  towm,  and  in  1843,  Mother 
Augustine  Dalton  conceived  the  idea  of  re-discovering  the  making 
of  the  beautiful  lace  known  as  V enetian  Point  Lace.  After  man5' 
experiments  and  careful  unpicking  of  an  exceedingly  fine 
specimen  of  Venetian  Point  this  good  nun  succeeded  beyond 
measure,  and  started  the  lace-making  industry,  which  now  gives 
employment  to  forty-five  workers,  and  which  has  identified  the 
name  of  New  Ross  with  one  of  the  most  beautiful  art-products 
of  any  age— the  world-famous  Rose  needle-point  lace,  known  to 
experts  as  the  New  Ross  “ Rose  Point.”  Specimens  of  this  lace 
— pronounced  bj^  the  late  Alan  Cole  to  surpass  its  prototype,  the 
original  Venetian  Point — are  to  be  found  in  the  principal 
museums. 


91 


The  National  School  dates  from  1833,  but  new  schools  were 
built  in  1848 — thanks  to  the  zeal  and  energy  of  Father  (subse- 
quently the  famous  Canon)  Doyle,  then  C.C.  of  New  Ross.  These 
schools  are  capable  of  accommodating  six  hundred  children,  and 
cost  close  on  ^1,000.  A new  chapel — designed  by  Father  Doyle 
— was  built,  in  1850-3,  at  a cost  of  £2,000,  and  a new  wing  was 
added  to  the  convent. 

In  :882  the  General  of  the  Carmelites,  Father  (now  Cardinal) 
Gotti,  visited  the  house,  and,  in  1883,  the  convent  was  transferred 
from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Superior  of  the  Carmelite  Order  to 
that  of  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Ferns.  Further  improvements 
were  effected  in  the  convent  chapel  in  1896. 

The  schools  are  thoroughly  equipped,  and  at  present  (1915) 
are  attended  by  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hundred 
children.  The  present  community  is  twenty.  Annexed  is  the 
list  of  Prioresses  since  1817  : — 

1817-1835.  Mother  Teresa  Kavanagh. 


1835- 

Mary  John  Buchanan. 

1838. 

Teresa  Kavanagh,  d.  in  1843. 

1841. 

M 

Teresa  Joseph  Sutton. 

1844-1850. 

Augustine  Dalton. 

1850. 

J 

de  Pazzi  Roche. 

1851. 

Agnes  McDonagh. 

1853-1862. 

J) 

Augustine  Dalton. 

1862. 

)) 

Teresa  Joseph  Sutton. 

1865-1873. 

5» 

Augustine  Dalton. 

1873-1879. 

J» 

Aloysius  Ledwige. 

1879. 

)> 

Mary  Ryan. 

1882-1888. 

? 

Evangelist  Cullen. 

1888. 

>» 

Aloysius  Ledwige. 

1891. 

>> 

Brigid  Crane. 

1894. 

Evangelist  Cullen. 

1897. 

Brigid  Crane. 

1900. 

Evangelist  Cullen. 

1903. 

Brigid  Crane. 

1906. 

>> 

Evangelist  Cullen. 

1909. 

iy 

Brigid  Crane,  d.  August,  1910. 

1910. 

i 

Paul  Roche. 

1913- 

„ (still  in  office). 

92 


Ill— Christian  Brothers. 

In  1849  the  Christian  Brothers  got  a foundation  in  New  Ross, 
on  the  invitation  of  Father  James  Walsh,  and  the  first  Superior 
was  Brother  Glynn.  The  new  foundation  was  dedicated  to  St. 
Joseph.  Ever  since,  the  schools  have  been  kept  well  abreast  of 
all  modern  requirements,  and  to-day  there  are  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  pupils  on  the  rolls.  The  bell  used  in  the 
Christian  Brothers  residence,  was  the  old  belb  of  Rosbercon 
parish  church,  and  was  presented  to  Brother  Glynn  by  Rev. 
Michael  Walsh,  P.P.  (1834-1875).  A new  residence  was  built  in 
1890. 


IV. — Convent  of  Mercy. 

In  1854  a Convent  of  Mercy  was  founded  in  New  Ross,  and 
the  mansion  house  of  Colonel  Tottenham  was  given  the  Nuns  by 
the  owner  on  a long  lease,  at  a moderate  rent.  The  schools  are 
under  the  National  Board,  and  are  well  equipped. 

V. — Convent  of  Good  Shepherd. 

The  Good  Shepherd  Nuns  were  introduced  by  Father  James 
Walsh,  in  i860.  On  May  i6th,  i860,  the  Nuns  formally  opened 
their  house  in  a disused  corn  store — with  Mother  M.  Keegan  as 
first  Superioress.  Mr.  Richard  Devereux  was  a generous 
benefactor,  and  his  two  nieces  joined  the  community.  He  also 
built  an  Industrial  School,  certified  for  seventy  children,  in  1870. 
.Some  years  later  a new  convent  and  church  were  built — the 
latter  serving  as  a chapel  of  ease  to  the  parish  church.  Mother 
C.  Bartley  (1863-1877)  wms  succeeded  as  Superioress  by  Mother  M. 
Devereux  (1877-1907)  after  whom  came  Mother  M.  O’Brien.  The 
Magdalen  Home  shelters  sixty  Penitents.  The  Convent  is 
situated  in  Irishtown,  and  occupies  a splendid  position.  At 
present  there  are  twenty-eight  Sisters  in  Community. 


VI. — Convent  of  St.  John  of  God. 

The  Sisters  of  St.  John  of  God  got  a foundation  in  New  Ross, 
in  1873,  and  ever  since  they  have  done  incalculable  good  in  the 
nursing  of  the  sick  poor. 


93 


Parish  of  Adamstown 


The  old  name  of  Adamstown  is  Magheranevin,  “ the  plain  of  the 
berries.”  UndeV-  the  Anglo-Norman  regime  Magheranevin  was 
acquired  by  the  Marshal  family,  and,  in  1233,  the  place  is  called 
“ Matherneyuin  ” — subsequently  corrupted  to  “ Murnevin.”  The 
church  belonged  to  the  Archdeaconry  of  Ferns.  It  was  only  in 
the  year  1418  that  the  name  “ y\damstown  ” was  given  to  the 
parish,  when  Adam  Devereux  built  a castle  there,  but  the  name 
Magheranevin  continued  as  the  ecclesiastical  designation  as  late 
as  1600.  The  Sweetman  family  were  associated  with  this  pari.sh 
from  the  15th  century  and  had  a goodly  property  at  Collop’s 
Well,  where  was  born  the  illustrious  Nicholas  Sweetman,  Bishop 
of  Ferns.  William  Philipps  (Fitz  Philip)  was  Rector  in  1560, 
and  with  him  the  old  Catholic  regime  passed  awaj'.  In  1801, 
Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  as  worth  £']^  a year,  having 
one  curate.  The  Parish  Registers  go  back  to  the  3'ear  1807. 

The  parish  includes  Adamstown,  Newbawn,  and  Raheen, 
and  represents  the  old  parishes  of  Adamstown,  Doononey, 
Newbawn,  with  parts  of  Inch,  Horetown,  and  Kilgarvan.  On 
October  agth,  1850,  Bishop  Murphy  annexed  to  the  recently- 
formed  parish  of  Clongeen  the  chapel  of  Cullenstown,  and  the 
townlands  of  Assagarth,  Horetown,  Little  Faree,  and  part  of 
Newcastle. 

Adamstown  parish  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Cloughbaun 
and  Bree,  on  the  south  by  Clongeen,  on  the  east  by  Bree, 
Taghmon,  and  Clongeen,  and  on  the  west  by  Tintern  and 
Cushinstown. 

PARISH  PRIESTS, 

Rev.  John  MacEvoy  was  Pastor  of  the  district  from  1680  to 
1720.  He  had  been  ordained  in  France,  in  1674,  and  he  registered 
himself,  in  1704,  as  Pastor  of  Adamstown,  Clongeen,  Horetown, 
and  Kilgarvan,  residing  at  Newcastle. 

Rev.  Lawrence  Doyle  was  P.P.  from  1730  to  1762.  The 
parish  was  then  known  as  “ Newbawn,”  and  on  July  23rd,  1753, 

94 


Bishop  Sweetman  made  a visitation  of  it,  on  which  occasion  a 
sermon  “ above  ye  capacity  of  ye  auditory  ” was  delivered  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Cassin,  S.J. 

Rev.  Philip  Devereux  laboured  from  1762  till  his  death  on 
April  13th,  1795.  He  was  Vicar  General  of  Ferns. 

Rev.  John  Shalloe,  a native  of  Park,  near  new  Ross,  and  P.P. 
of  Castlebridge  since  1794,  was  transferred  to  Adamstown  on 
April  13th,  1795.  He  experienced  all  the  horrors  of  the  ’98  period, 
and  was  a perfect  angel  of  mercy  all  his  life.  Daily  he  might  be 
seen  with  his  pockets  well-filled  with  food  for  the  needy,  and 
among  his  clerical  friends,  he  was  known  as  “ slash  pocket.” 
His  little  thatched  church  in  Newbawn  was  fired  in  ’98,  but  he 
rebuilt  it  in  1806,  and  had  it  further  improved  in  1811.  He  also 
built  chapels  at  Raheen  and  Cullenstown  in  1814.  His  residence 
was  in  a small  cottage  at  Ballyshannon,  and  he  resigned  the 
pastoral  cure  in  1817.* 

Rev.  Peter  Sinnott  laboured  from  1817  to  1835,  and  built  the 
present  churches  of  Raheen  and  Adamstown.  He  was  a native 
of  Sheepwalk,  in  the  parish  of  Piercestown,  and  he  resigned  the 
pastoral  cure  on  July  17th,  1835,  retiring  to  his  native  place. j 

Rev.  Patrick  Ryan,  born  in  the  parish  of  Glynn,  and  C.C.  of 
Adamstown  since  1818,  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  on 
October  ist,  1835  and  laboured  for  fifteen  years.  He  repaired  the 
church  of  Adamstown  in  1840,  and  erected  the  present  presbytery 
of  Newbawn.  His  death  occurred  on  September  19th,  1850,  aged 
56,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the  church  of  Newbawn. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Furlong,  a native  of  Glynn  parish,  and  C.C.  of 
INIurrintown  (Piercestown)  since  1849,  was  appointed  P.P.  on 
October  29th,  1850.  He  had  been  C.C.  of  Screen  for  nearly 
twenty-three  years,  and  was  in  delicate  health  when  promoted 
to  Adamstown.  However,  he  laboured  for  thirteen  years,  and, 
at  length,  resigned  the  parochial  cure  in  August,  1864.  His 
curate — Rev.  Andrew  O’Farrell — built  the  present  presbytery  at 
Raheen  in  1859.  Father  Furlong  died  on  July  nth,  1880,  in  the 
80th  year  of  his  age,  and  was  interred  in  the  church  of  Newbawn. 

Rev.  Patrick  Neville,  a native  of  Cushinstown  parish,  and 
C.C.  of  New  Ross  since  1849,  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  on 
September  25th,  1864,  and  laboured  for  twelve  years.  During  his 

’Father  Shalloe  died  on  April  23rd,  1831,  and  is  buried  in  Old  Ross,  where  there 
is  a monument  to  his  memory,  with  a rhymed  epitaph  now  almost  undecipherable. 
fFather  Sinnott  died  in  1840. 


95 


term  of  office  the  tower  of  Adamstown  church  fell  on  March  loth. 
1872,  but  was  soon  after  rebuilt.  Father  Neville  died  in  May, 
1876,  and  was  interred  in  Adamstown. 

Rev^  Nicholas  Hore,  a native  of  Kilmore  parish,  and  Parish 
Priest  of  Tintern  since  September,  1875,  was  transferred  to 
.A.damstown  in  June,  1876.  After  eleven  years  rule  he  was  made 
P.P.  of  Rathangan  in  July,  1887. 

Rev.  John  Doyle,  Adm.  of  Rathangan  since  18S2,  was 
promoted  to  the  pastorate  in  July,  1887.  To  him  is  due  the 
present  beautiful  church  of  Newbawn,  built  in  1889,  at  a cost  of 
£3,500,  dedicated  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  and  the 
Immaculate  Heart  of  Mar\^  He  also  built  the  present  National 
school  at  Raheen.  Father  Doyle  died  on  November  15th,  1901, 
and  was  interred  at  Newbawn. 

Very  Rev.  James  (Canon)  O’Brien — a native  of  Litter  parish 
— who  had  been  C.C.  of  Oulart  and  of  Rathangan,  and  wms  P.P. 
of  Crossabeg  since  1893,  "^vas  transferred  to  Adamstown  on 
November  24th,  1901.  He  built  a new^  school  at  Newbawn  and  a 
teacher’s  residence  at  Adamstown,  and  he  has  effected  con- 
siderable improvements  in  the  churches  at  Raheen  and 
Adamstown. 

ANTIQUITIES,  Etc. 

At  Collop's  Well  there  is  a splendid  Dolmen,  but,  unfortun- 
ately, owing  to  vandalism,  it  is  now  imperfect.  There  are  two 
other  w'^ells,  viz.,  Henry’s  Well  and  John’s  Well. 

Ruins  of  castles  are  to  be  found  in  Newbawn,  Courthojde, 
and  Adamstown.  Courthoyle  (Court  Howell)  was  a 13th-century 
stronghold  of  the  Howmlls,  or  Walshes.  Adamstown  castle  was 
built  by  Adam  Devereux  in  1418,  and  was  rebuilt  by  Sir  Nicholas 
Devereux  in  1556,  as  is  testified  by  a sculptured  heraldic  slab  which 
is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Dowmes  family. 

There  is  a fragment  of  a cross  in  the  graveyard  of  Adamstown 
which  some  local  antiquarians  describe  as  marking  the  last  resting 
place  of  St.  Abban.  This  is  purely  traditional : it  is  a I3th-centur3' 
cross  of  the  usual  pattern.  The  feast  of  St.  Abban  is  on  March  i6th, 
but  there  is  another  St.  Abban  commemorated  on  October  27th. 

Chapels  formerly  existed  at  Templenacrow  and  Templeshelin: 
the  former  was  dedicated  to  the  Holy  Cross,  while  the  latter  was 
in  honour  of  St.  Sillan. 

The  granite  monument — a replica  of  Pompey’s  Pillar — erected 

96 


by  General  Browne  Clayton  at  Carrigadaggin,  near  Carrickbyrne, 
to  the  memory  of  Sir  Ralph  Abercrombie,  only  dates  from  1841. 

Scullabogue — associated  with  sad  memories  of  ’98— is  in  the 
parish. 

In  Courthoyle  churchyard  are  buried  five  priests  of  the  Doyle 
family,  to  one  of  whom  (Very  Rev.  Thomas  Doyle,  Dean  of 
Ferns  and  P.P.  of  New  Ross,  who  died  in  1830)  is  erected  a 
monument  on  which  is  a beautiful  Latin  inscription*  written  by 
the  famous  Bishop  Doyle,  J.K.L.,  as  follows  : 

Hie  jacet 

Corpus  Reverendi  Thoim.^s  Doyle, 

Oui  per  multos  annos  vicarias  vices 
In  diocesi  Fernensi  gerens 
Animos  omnium  tarn  exemplo  quam  doctrina 
Erudivit. 

Suavis,  patiens  et  mansuetus 
Dissentiones  perernit 
Lites  composuit 

Et  omnes  ad  amorem  Dei  et  proximi 
Inflammare  allaboravit 
Prudens  atque  gravis 
Consilium  sanum  et  sanctum  petentibus 
Praebuit 

Et  sicut  imbres  qui  cadunt  super  terram 
Eloquia  sapientiae  ejus  erigebant  elisos 
Moestosque  foevebant 

Sollicitus  quae  Dei  sunt  non  quae  sunt  mundi 
Curae  animarum  perpetuo  incubuit 
Pauperes  ut  filios  habuit. 

In  eorum  sublevandis  necessitatibus 
Omnia  quasi  detrimentum  propter  amorem 
Domini  Jesu  Christi 
Existimavit 

Ouotidie  sacrificium  obtulit 
Quotidie  preces  pro  grege  sibi  commissa 
Coram  Domino  fudit 
Omnium  provocans  affectum 
Omnibusque  insignitus  virtutibus 
Effulsit  sicut  lucernam  in  domo  Dei 
Morbo  tandem  et  labore  confectus 
Migravit  e vita 
Pridie  Kal.  Septembris 
Anno  salutis  nostrae  MDCCCXXX 
Aetatis  vero  suae  LXXIV. 

Requiescat  in  pace. 

*To  prevent  misconception  it  may  be  well  to  state  that  the  inscription  is 
given  exactly_as  it  appears— which  will  account  for  a few  obvious  errors. 


97 


H 


Kilbraney  was  a grange  of  Tintern  Abbey,  but  there  was  no 
church,  merely  a chapelry.  There  is,  however,  a holy  well,  St. 
Mary’s,  not  far  distant.  It  is  said  that  the  Franciscan  Friars  of 
the  Third  Order  had  a house  here  in  the  1 5th  century. 
Doonooney — formerly  an  important  parish — is  now  but  a 
townland.  Not  a trace  of  the  old  church  now  remains,  but  near 
the  site  is  a fine  moat. 

Camaross  (parish  of  Kilgarvan)  was  a famous  Celtic 
monastery,  founded  bj^’  St.  Abban,  whose  successor  was  St. 
Mo  Sacer  of  Tomhaggard.  The  latter  saint  died  in  650  (see 
Kilmore). 


98 


Parish  of  Clongeen 


Clongeen  was  formerly  known  as  Clongeen  iVIoedhoc,  as  it  was 
one  of  the  churches  founded  by  St.  Aedan  (Moedhoc).  St.  Moling 
as  a boy  met  the  founder  of  the  See  of  Ferns  in  the  church  of 
Clongeen,  as  is  recorded  in  the  old  Irish  Life.  In  1321  the  church 
was  appropriated  to  the  Priory  of  Kilmainham,  and  so  continued 
till  1540.  On  July  8th,  1566,  James  Barnewall  was  leased  “the 
Rectory  of  Clongeen,  with  its  two  chapelries  of  Far}’^  High  Rath 
(Faree)  and  Rathgory— parcels  of  said  Rectory.”  Clongeen 
represents  the  old  parishes  of  Clongeen,  Rosegarland  (Inch)  and 
Owenduff. 

In  the  17th  centur}^  Clongeen  formed  part  of  the  parish  of 
Adamstown,  but  in  the  i8th  century  it  went  with  Tintern.  The 
present  parish  was  formed  on  June  2nd,  1847. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Patrick  Marshall,  a native  of  Tagoat,  C.C.  of  Tintern 
since  1834,  was  appointed  first  Parish  Priest  of  Clongeen  on  June 
2nd,  1847,  with  Rev.  Thomas  Doyle  as  C.C.  As  before  stated 
(see  Adamstown)  Cullenstown  curacy  was  incorporated  with 
Clongeen  in  September,  1850.  Rev.  John  Murphy  was  C.C.  from 
1851  to  1853,  whose  successors  were  Rev.  Thomas  Busher  (1853), 
Rev.  John  Furlong  (1854-1858),  Rev.  Alex.  Kinsella  (1858-59),  and 
Rev.  Richard  Kelly  (1859-1862).  Father  Marshall  died  January 
2ist,  1862. 

Very  Rev.  William  (Canon)  Moran,  C.C.  of  Piercestown  since 
1857,  w'as  appointed  P.P.  on  January  26th,  1862,  and  laboured 
zealously  for  twenty-six  years.  He  died  on  January  2nd,  1888. 

Rev.  Murtagh  Sullivan  (ordained  on  September  2nd,  1866), 
chaplain  of  the  Convent  of  the  Reparation,  Wexford,  since  1881, 
was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  on  January  20th,  1888.  After 
eleven  j'ears  in  Clongeen  Father  Sullivan  was  transferred  to 
Bannow  on  July  30th,  1899. 


99 


Rev.  James  Murphy,  C.C.  of  Marshalstown  (1883-1899)  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  August  20th,  1899,  but  within  two  years  was 
transferred  to  Craanford  (August  5th,  1901). 

Rev.  John  Lyng,  C.C.  of  Newtownbarry  since  Februar}',  1885, 
was  Pastor  from  August,  1901,  till  his  death  on  August  20th,  1911. 

Rev.  Michael  Hickej'’,  C.C.  of  Templeudigan  (Rathnure)  since 
November,  1895,  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Clongeen  on 
September  ist,  1911,  and  is  the  present  P.P. 

CARMELITE  FRIARY  OF  HORETOWN. 

In  1350,  Philip  Furlong  of  Horetown  gave  a foundation  at 
Horetown  for  the  Carmelite  Friars.  It  was  a small  Prior3%  and 
the  lives  of  the  Friars  passed  uneventfully  till  the  dissolution  of 
the  religious  houses  in  1540.  Even  after  the  dissolution,  the 
Friars  did  not  desert  the  locality,  as  we  meet  with  references  to 
them  in  1620  and  1648.  Father  Edmond  Nevin  was  Prior  from 
1725  till  his  death  on  April  28th,  1777.*  The  inscription  (now 
undecipherable)  on  his  tomb  in  St.  Mary’s  (Our  Lady’s)  Cemetery, 
Taghmon,  runs  as  follows  : — 

Here  lies  the  body  of 
The  Rev.  Edmond  Nevin, 

Prior  of  the  Convent  of  Horetown, 
who  departed  this  life, 
the  28th  of  April,  1777, 
aged  94  years. 

The  Carmelites  acted  as  curates  at  Cullenstown  in  the  18th 
century.  Bishop  Caulfield,  in  his  Relatio  of  1795,  mentions  that 
there  was  a Carmelite  Friar}'  at  Horetown,  “with  only  one 
Friar.’’  The  last  of  the  Order  in  Cullenstown  was  Father 
Hughes,  who  died  in  1817,  and  was  buried  in  Taghrnon,  in  Our 
Lady’s  Cemetery.  Not  a trace  remains  of  the  old  Friary,  which 
was  situated  near  Goff’s  Bridge.  During  the  Penal  days  the 
Carmelites  kept  a school  near  their  old  foundation,  but  it 
disappeared  in  1817,  and  on  its  site  stands  the  public-house  of 
Mr.  James  McCarthy.  Sic  transit ! 

•His  Will  was  proved  in  1778.  It  is  now  in  the  P.R.O.,  Dublin. 


100 


ANTIQUITIES. 

The  old  church  of  Clongeen— dedicated  to  St.  Aedaii — has 
long  since  disappeared,  but  St.  Mogue’s  Well  is  near  the  cemetery, 
about  300  yards  north.  The  cemetery  was  the  burial  place  of 
the  Sweetman  family,  one  of  whom,  Roger  Sweetman,  died  at 
the  age  of  102.  The  inscription  on  Bishop  Sweetman’s  tomb  is 
now  almost  undecipherable,  but  it  was  copied  by  Canon  William 
Moran,  P.P.,  in  1872,  and  runs  as  follows  : — 

“ Here  lies  the  body  of 
The  Most  Rev.  Doctor 
Nicholas  Sweetman, 
who  departed  this  life 
the  13th  October,  1786, 
aged  86  years.  Bishop  of  Ferns  42. 

Requiescat  in  Pace.  Amen. 

At  Loughnageera  is  the  site  of  a church,  which  was  dedicated 
to  St.  Catherine.  Near  the  site  is  St.  Catherine's  Well. 

There  are  now  no  traces  of  the  chapels  at  Faree  and 
Rathgory. 

Abbeybraney  House  occupies  the  site  of  the  old  Grange  of 
Kilbraney,  which  has  been  noticed  under  Adamstowk. 

Rathgory  castle  was  built  by  the  Sweetmans. 

In  former  days  Owenduff  parish  belonged  to  Tintern  Abbey. 


101 


Parish  of  Cushinstown 


The  comparatively  modern  parish  of  Cushinstown  represents  the 
old  parishes  of  Old  Ross,  Carnagh,  Kilscanlan,  and  Terryrath — 
the  townland  of  Cushinstown  being  in  the  civil  parish  of 
Carnagh.  Old  Ross  is  about  five  miles  from  New  Ross,  and  was 
of  considerable  importance  in  the  13th  and  14th  centuries.  From 
the  Marshall  family  the  Rectory  devolved  on  the  Norfolk  family, 
who  held  it  till  1540.  The  last  Catholic  Rector  was  Rev.  James 
Tobin  in  1550:  he  died  in  1565.  Terryrath— also  written 
Tullyrough,  Terryrough,  Tellerath,  etc. — was  really  a chapelr\' 
in  the  parish  of  Carnagh.  In  the  early  years  of  the  17th  century. 
Rev.  Richard  Fitzharris  and  Rev.  John  Ouilty  laboured  in  the 
district,  as  we  learn  from  the  Report  of  Bishop  Ram  in  1612.  At 
that  date  Kilscanlan  had  been  united  to  Old  Ross.  Father 
Ouilty  died  at  Ballyhope,  in  1615.  The  Registers  go  back  to 
January,  1753,  but  the  Registers  of  Baptisms  and  Marriages  are 
missing  from  1S30  to  1863.  In  1801  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the 
parish  of  Old  Ross  as  worth  /"Go  a year,  with  one  curate. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

In  1685  Rev.  Bryan  Madden  w'as  Pastor  of  Carnagh, 
Ballyanne,  and  Kilscanlan,  while  Rev.  Aedan  Redmond  was 
Pastor  of  Old  Ross,  Chapel,  Killegn3^  Templeudigan,  and 
Rossdroit.  Both  of  these  priests  registered  themselves  in  1704. 

Rev.  Bryan  Murphy  was  appointed  P.P.  in  1740  and  had  a 
pastorate  of  thirty-nine  years.  In  1753  Bishop  Sweetman  held  a 
Visitation  and  confirmed  at  Rathgarogue — the  then  parochial 
church  of  the  district.  Father  Murphy  died  on  May  31st,  1779. 


102 


Very  Rev.  Patrick  (Canon)  Doyle  was  P.P.  from  June,  1779, 
till  his  death  on  November  25th,  1813.  He  lived  at  Ballymacar 
in  the  parish  of  Old  Ross. 

Rev.  William  Connick  laboured  from  December,  1813,  for 
the  long  period  of  thirty-eight  years.  His  curate.  Rev.  John 
Dunne,  was  made  P.P.  of  Ballindaggin  in  1825,  and  was  replaced 
successively  by  Rev.  James  Cullin  (1825-27),  Rev.  Patrick 
Dempsey  (1827-1832),  Rev.  James  Sinnott  (1832),  and  Rev.  Richard 
Barry  (1832-1836).  In  1835  there  were  churches  at  Cushinstown, 
Rathgarogue,  and  Terryrath.  Father  Connick  died  on  May  28th, 
1851. 

Rev.  John  Rickard,  C.C.  of  the  parish  for  over  twenty  years, 
was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  on  June  i6th,  1851.  He  resigned 
on  February  2nd,  1863. 

Very  Rev.  William  (Canon)  Murphy  was  P.P.  from  February 
14th,  1863,  till  his  death  on  December  26th,  1880,  aged  66.  To 
him  is  due  the  erection  of  the  fine  Gothic  church  at  Cushinstown, 
at  the  opening  of  which  by  Bishop  Furlong,  in  1868,  the  sermon 
was  preached  by  Rev.  Father  Harbinson,  C.SS.R. 

Canon  Murphy*  also  built  a beautiful  presbytery  at  Cushins- 
town in  1864-5  ; a fine  church  and  presbytery  at  Terryrath  in  1869  ; 
and  he  renovated  the  church  and  presbytery  in  Rathgarogue. 

The  Venerable  John  (Archdeacon)  Furlong,  P.P.  of  Clough- 
bawn  from  June,  1869,101881,  was  transferred  to  Cushinstown 
on  February  4th,  1881,  and  laboured  for  nearly  thirty  years. 
During  his  pastorate  the  present  church  of  Rathgarogue  was 
built.  Archdeacon  Furlong  died  on  November  30th,  1910,  aged 
82  years. 

Rev.  James  Hartley,  C.C.  of  Glynn  since  1900,  was  promoted 
to  be  P.P.  on  December  i6th,  1910,  and  died  on  January  6th,  1914, 
aged  49. 

Rev.  James  Redmond,  C.C.  of  Gorey  since  February,  1892, 
was  appointed  P.P.  on  February  ist,  1914,  and  is  the  present 
Pastor. 

* Canon  Murphy  was  an  admirable  Administrator  and  man  of  business, 
and  he  was  given  the  sites  of  most  of  his  church  buildings  by  Mr.  Lambert  of 
Scarnagh,  a generous  Catholic  landlord.  His  plan  to  raise  funds  for  building 
was  to  buy  extensively  young  cattle,  and  then  give  them  out  to  the  local 
farmers  to  rear  and  feed  until  they  were  fit  for  the  market,  when  they  realised 
fine  prices.  With  the  handsome  profits  thus  derived  the  Canon  carried  out  his 
plans  for  the  erection  of  churches,  presbyteries,  and  schools. 

103 


ANTIQUITIES. 


In  the  whirligig  of  Time  the  town  of  Old  Ross  has  dis- 
appeared, and  its  site  is  occupied  a few  houses  on  the  estate  of 
Lord  Carew.  The  manor  and  castle  passed  to  Sir  Thomas 
Colclough  of  Tintern  Abbey,  under  King  James  I.,  and  was  in 
possession  of  his  nephew  Anthom-'  Colclough  in  1640.  In  1684 
Robert  Leigh,  of  Rosegarland,  describes  the  castle  as  then  “ quite 
out  of  repair,”  and  he  mentions  “ the  old  ruined  church  and  about 
50  cabins  of  thatched  houses,  with  about  1,200  acres  of  land 
adjoining,  now  possessed  by  Abel  Ram  of  Dublin.”  A mound 
marks  the  site  of  the  castle.  The  Protestant  church  marks  the 
site  of  the  old  Catholic  church. 

Formerly,  Terryrath  was  a chapelry  forming  part  of  the 
Prebend  of  Toom  ; while  Kilscanlan  was  a mensal  parish. 
Ballyanne  furnished  a title  for  Cahir  Mac  Art  Mac  Murrough. 
At  Terryrath  (in  the  parish  of  Carnagh)  are  the  ruins  of  an 
ancient  castle.  The  remains  of  the  old  parish  church  are  in  the 
centre  of  the  ancient  cemetery  : in  the  latter  is  the  vault  of  the 
Lambert  family. 


104 


Parish  of  Ramsgrange 


The  present  parish  of  Ramsgrange  is  modern,  and  only  dates  from 
1S63 — when  it  was  formed  out  of  the  large  parish  of  the  Hook. 
Up  to  the  year  1863  Ramsgrange  was  one  of  the  four  curacies  of 
the  Hook,  namely  Ramsgrange,  Duncannon,  Templetown,  and 
Poulfur,  but  on  the  death  of  Rev.  George  Murphy,  on  March  17th, 
1863,  Bishop  Furlong  divided  the  parish  of  the  Hook  into  the 
parishes  of  Ramsgrange  and  Templetown — Rev.  Thomas  Doyle 
becoming  the  first  pastor  of  Ramsgrange,  and  Rev.  William  Codd 
first  pastor  of  Templetown.  An  account  of  the  latter  parish  will 
be  found  in  its  proper  place  under  Templetown. 

Ramsgrange,  or  the  parish  of  St.  James,  includes  Duncannon. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Buttons  Parish  and  Gusserane  ; 
on  the  south  b}^  Templetown  ; on  the  east  by  Tintern  ; and 
on  the  west  by  the  river  Barrow.  The  Registers  go  back  to 
1835,  and  the  earliest  entry  runs  as  follows  On  this  day 
(September  24th,  1835)  I received  my  appointment  to  the 
united  parishes  of  St.  James  and  the  Hook  : Signed,  George 
Murphy,  P.P.” 

The  church  of  Ramsgrange  was  dedicated  to  St.  James,  but 
in  the  15th  century  St.  James's  was  united  to  Killesk,  both  being 
impropriated  to  the  Abbey  of  Dunbrody,  as  was  also  the  chapelry 
of  Rathroe  and  the  church  of  Ballyhack.  At  Duncannon  was  the 
chapelry  of  Kilbride,  but  the  village  did  not  come  into  prominence 
until  1606,  when  Sir  Laurence  Esmonde  was  appointed  Governor 
of  the  Fort.*  In  the  Catholic  arrangement  Killesk  is  included 
in  Buttons  Parish. 


* The  Papal  Nuncio  Rinuccini  spent  some  months  in  Duncannon  during 
the  Confederate  regime. 


105 


At  St.  James's,  Ballyhack,  Abbot  Everard,  O.Cist.,  was 
chaplain  in  1648-9.  The  thatched  chapel  of  Ramsgrange  was 
burned  by  the  ascendancy  faction  on  June  19th,  1798.  The 
present  church  was  built  in  1838-1843 — towards  which  a sum  of 
£"500  was  collected  on  June  5th,  1842,  on  the  occasion  of  a sermon 
by  the  famous  Father  Tom  Maguire. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Very  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon)  Doyle,  who  had  been  C.C.  of  the 
Hook  from  January,  1853  to  1858,  was  appointed  Adm.  of 
Ramsgrange  and  Duncannon  in  May,  1862,  and  first  P.P.  of 
Ramsgrange  on  March  17th,  1863.  During  forty-one  years  his 
voice  and  pen  were  untiring  in  the  cause  of  faith  and  fatherland. 
He  gave  up  his  house  to  the  Sisters  of  St.  Louis,  and  contented 
himself  with  a small  room  in  the  convent.  Not  alone  did  Canon 
Doyle  introduce  the  Sisters  of  St.  Louis,  but  he  introduced  the 
De  La  Salle  Christian  Brothers  and  he  built  schools  at 
Ramsgrange  (1886-1891)  and  Ballyhack  (1894).  Ably  assisted  by 
his  curate.  Rev.  John  Browne,  he  also  erected  a splendid  church 
at  Duncannon,  dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  under  the  title 
of  “ Star  of  the  Sea,”  on  May  i8th,  1896.  Five  years  previously 
(1891)  the  beautiful  presbytery  was  built  by  Father  Browne,  C.C., 
now  Canon  Browne  of  Litter.  Canon  Doyle  died  on  October 
2 1 St,  1903,  aged  88. 

Verj^  Rev.  Nicholas  (Canon)  Sheridan,  B.C.L.,  who  had  been 
President  of  St.  Peter's  College,  Wexford,  from  1890  to  December, 
1903,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  January  6th,  1904,  and  is  the  present 
Pastor. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

The  fortified  church  of  St.  Catherine,  at  Nook  (le  Newge, 
Nugge,  or  Neuke)  was  built  on  the  site  of  a Celtic  oratory 
dedicated  to  St.  Inick  (Inioge) — whose  memory  is  still  preserved 
at  Killinick  and  Nook  Bay.  It  is  a little  to  the  north  of  Ballyhack, 
and  dates  from  the  middle  of  the  14th  century.  At  the  west-end 
a dwelling-house  was  incorporated.  Buttermilk  Castle  is  on  the 
south-east  of  St.  Catherine’s  Bay. 

106 


There  are  traces  of  the  old  church  at  Rathroe— impropriated 
to  Dunbrod}^  Abbey  in  1331 — and  O’Donovan  states  that  this  was 
one  of  the  few  churches  built  in  a Rath.  There  are  also  traces 
of  old  chapels  at  Shelbaggan  (Ramsgrange),  Kilbride  (Duncannon) 
and  Tiompal  Buidhe  (Battletown).  The  site  of  a castle  may  still 
be  seen  at  Battletown,  in  the  Castle  Meadow. 

Ballyhack  was  founded  circa  1260  as  a Preceptory  for  Knights 
Hospitallers,  of  which  Kilmainham  was  the  chief  house  in 
Ireland.  It  flourished  till  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries. 
William  Keating  was  the  last  Preceptor  in  1540.  The  castle  of 
Ballyhack  dates  from  the  14th  century  and  is  still  in  tolerable 
preservation.  It  contains  a stone  altar  in  a recess  off  the  principal 
rooms.  The  castle  was  taken  b}'^  Cromwell  early  in  February, 
1650. 


RELIGIOUS  HOUSES. 

I. — Sisters  of  St.  Louis. 

In  1871  the  late  Canon  Doyle  introduced  the  Sisters  of  St. 
Louis  (from  Monaghan)  to  Ramsgrange.  These  Nuns  at  first 
opened  a female  school  and  conducted  a boarding  school  till 
1906.  In  the  latter  year  it  was  deemed  of  greater  advantage  to 
avail  of  the  provisions  of  the  Department,  and  open  a school  of 
Rural  Domestic  Economy.  This  school  has  been  very  successful 
for  the  past  nine  years,  and  isopen  to  female  students  over  sixteen 
years  of  age.  The  curriculum  includes  dairying,  poultry- 
keeping, horticulture,  household  management,  cookerj’,  laundry- 
work,  and  needle  work.  Thirty  places  for  resident  students  are 
provided  by  the  Department,  at  a nominal  fee. 

The  Sisters  also  have  charge  of  the  National  schools,  which 
were  built  in  1886.  The  Community  numbers  twenty-nine 
Sisters,  and  the  present  Superioress  is  Mrs.  Whelan. 

II. — De  La  Salle  Christian  Brothers. 

The  De  La  Salle  Christian  Brothers  were  introduced  by  the 
late  Canon  Doyle  in  1888,  and  they  conduct  schools,  primary  and 
industrial. 


I 


107 


Parish  of  Buttons 


SuTTONS  Parish  represents  the  older  parishes  of  Kilmokea, 
Whitechurch,  Ballybrazil,  Killesk,  and  portions  of  St.  James's 
and  St.  Mary’s.  As  a matter  of  fact  the  name  “ Suttons”  does  not 
appear  as  a parish  or  a townland  in  the  civil  divisions,  but  since 
the  i8th  century,  when  Horeswood  was  made  the  Catholic  centre 
of  the  district  formerly  belonging  to  the  Sutton  family  (who  lived 
in  Ballykeeroge  Castle),  the  name  of  “ Suttons  Parish”  has 
attached  to  Kilmokea  and  the  adjoining  parishes  in  the  Catholic 
arrangement.  It  is  also  known  as  Horeswood.  Within  the 
bounds  is  the  historic  Abbey  of  Dunbrod}'.  The  Great  Island 
(parish  of  Kilmokea)  includes  the  Ciimar  na  tri  nUisce,  which  is 
the  boundary  of  the  diocese  of  Ferns,  as  fixed  by  the  Synod  of 
Rath  Breasail  in  iii8.  Keating’s  “ Mileadhach”  is  Loughtown 
(Portillach)  adjoining  the  site  of  the  old  church  of  Kilmokea.  In 
1399  the  church  was  called  “St.  Macethe  de  Island,”  and  the 
Island  formed  part  of  the  corps  of  the  Precentorship  of  Ferns. 
Ballybrazil  was  an  impropriate  Rectory  ; and  Killesk  belonged 
to  Dunbrody.  Whitechurch  was  (and  is)  a Prebend  in  the 
Chapter,  and  in  1560  James  Laffan  was  the  last  Catholic 
Prebendary  under  the  old  regime.  Father  JohnDevereux,  O.Cist., 
laboured  in  the  district  from  1623  to  1640,  and  he  was  succeeded 
by  Father  Patrick  Everard  (titular  Abbot  of  Dunbrody),  who 
died  in  1650.  The  oldest  Parish  Register  begins  with  the  year 
1824. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Richard  Redmond  was  P.P.  of  Whitechurch,  Kilmokea, 
and  Ballybrazil  from  1675  to  1715,  and  he  registered  himself  as 
such  in  1704— residing  at  Priesthaggard.  At  the  same  date  (1704) 
Rev,  Michael  Downes  registered  as  P.P.  of  Dunbrody  and 
Owenduff,  residing  at  Ballygarvan.  F ather  Michael  Downes  was 
arrested  in  1702,  and  again,  in  June  1714,  solely  for  exercising  his 
ministry.  He  died  in  1741. 

108 


Rev.  George  Kehoe  was  P.P,  from  1741  to  1765.  About  the 
year  1743  a thatched  chapel  was  built  at  Dunganstown  (in  the 
parish  of  Whitechurch),  and  in  1753,  Bishop  Sweetman  made  a 
visitation  of  the  parish,  on  which  occasion  Father  James  Nolan 
of  New  Ross  preached  a fine  Irish  sermon. 

Very  Rev.  Gregory  (Canon)  Browne  was  P.P.  of  Buttons 
from  1765  to  1789.  In  the  latter  year  he  wms  transferred  to  the 
parish  of  the  Hook. 

Rev.  Robert  Barron  wms  appointed  P.P.  in  May,  1789,  but  in 
little  over  three  years  he  was  transferred  to  the  Hook  on 
November  3rd,  1792. 

Rev.  James  Doyle  was  made  P.P.  on  November  3rd,  1792, 
and  experienced  all  the  miseries  of  the  ’98  period.  He  died 
in  1816. 

Rev.  James  Murphy  was  P.P.  from  1816  till  his  death  on 
March  29th,  1825. 

Rev.  Jeremiah  Gormacon  (O’Gorman)  C.C.  of  the  Hook,  was 
promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Buttons  on  April  3rd,  1825,  but  died 
within  three  years,  on  March  21st,  1828. 

Rev.  Edmond  Redmond,  C.C.  of  Ballygarret  since  1814,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  April  24th,  1828,  and  laboured  for  over  twelve 
years.  In  1835  the  parish  had  two  churches,  one  (the  parochial) 
at  Horeswood,  in  the  townland  of  Ballinamona,  and  the  other 
at  Ballykell}^ — the  curate  being  Rev.  Patrick  Dempsey.  In 
January,  1840,  a second  curate  was  provided.  Rev.  J.  Doyle. 
Father  Redmond  died  on  Beptember  loth,  1840,  aged  54. 

Rev.  Michael  Mitten,  successively  Adm.  of  Enniscorthy  and 
Camolin,  and  P.P.  of  Oulart  since  October,  1832,  was  transferred 
to  Buttons  on  October  20th,  1840,  and  had  a pastorate  of  seventeen 
years.  He  renovated  the  church  of  Horeswood,  and  died  on 
November  17th,  1857. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Dunne,  C.C.  of  the  Hook  since  the 
ist  of  February,  1835,  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Buttons 
on  December  17th,  1857,  and  died  on  August  7th,  1879. 

Very  Rev.  Loughlin  (Canon)  Druhan,  P.P.  of  Tomacork 
since  1872,  wms  transferred  to  Buttons  on  September,  15th,  1879, 
and  had  a pastorate  of  over  seventeen  years.  He  died  on 
February  12th,  1897. 


109 


Very  Rev.  Andrew  (Canon)  Cavanagh,  P.P.  of  Rathnure 
since  1895,  was  transferred  to  Suttons  in  March,  1897,  and  died 
on  July  7th,  1903.  He  effected  many  improvements  in  the 
parochial  church  and  parochial  buildings. 

Ver3^  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Roche,  formerly  a member  of  the 
House  of  Missions  (1880-1893),  C.C.  of  Duncannon  (Ramsgrange) 
since  May,  1893,  was  promoted  to  Suttons  on  July  20th,  1903,  and 
is  the  present  Pastor. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

Dunbrody  Abbey  is  the  principal  object  of  antiquarian 
interest  in  the  parish.  Notwithstanding  mere  vandalism,  the 
Abbey  is  still  in  wonderful  preservation,  and  in  recent  years  has 
been  repaired  and  conserved  by  the  Board  of  Works.  Founded 
as  “ De  Portu  S.  Mariae,”  in  1176,  by  Harvey  de  Montemorisco 
for  Cistercian  monks,  it  was  colonised  from  St.  Mar3'’s  Abbey, 
Dublin,  and  was  confirmed  by  Prince  John,  in  1185,  and  by  Pope 
Celestine  III,  in  1195.  The  Abbey  church  was  consecrated  in  1201 
by  Herlewyn,  O.Cist.,  Bishop  of  Leighlin,  who  was  buried  in  the 
Abbey  in  1217.  During  the  13th  centurj"  the  Abbey  was  richly 
endowed,  and  the  Abbot  sat  as  a spiritual  peer  in  the  Parliaments 
of  the  Pale.  The  last  Abbot  was  Alexander  Devereux,  who  ruled 
from  1521  to  1539,  when  he  was  made  Bishop  of  Ferns.  But 
though  the  monks  disappeared  circa  1560,  titular  Abbots  were 
appointed  in  hopes  of  better  days.  In  1623  Rev.  John  Devereux 
O.Cist.,  was  professed  for  Dunbrody,  and  in  1645  Rev.  Patrick 
Everard,  O.Cist.,  was  given  formal  posse.ssion  of  the  Abbey  as 
Abbot.  Abbot  Everard  acted  as  P.P.  of  the  district,  with  St. 
James’s,  Ballyhack,  as  his  parochial  church,  where  he  was  visited 
by  the  Papal  Nuncio,  Rinuccini,  in  1647.  He  died  in  1650.  In 
1660  the  Abbey"  and  its  possessions  passed  by  mnrriage  to  the 
Earl  of  Donegal. 

Killesk  Castle  is  now  in  ruins  ; it  belonged  to  the  Barrens  in 
the  i6th  century". 

The  Great  Island  was  acquired  from  the  Ormonde  family,  in 
1710,  by  Colonel  Palliser.  In  1851  it  w’as  sold  to  the  Powers  of 
Faithlegg. 

An  old  Celtic  monastery  was  founded  by  St.  Abban  in 
Whitechurch,  in  the  early  years  of  the  7th  century,  but  all  traces 
of  it  have  long  since  passed  away. 


no 


Parish  of  Templetown 


The  parish  of  Templetown  or  of  the  Hook  represents  the  older 
parishes  of  the  Hook  {Cill  Dubhain)  and  Fethard,  but  it  also 
included  St.  James’s,  Duncannon,  and  Ramsgrange  until  1863  (see 
Ramsgrange).  Templetown  derives  its  name  from  the  Knights 
Templars  who  had  a Preceptory  at  Kilclogan,  “ the  Church  of 
the  Stone  Castle,”  or  “ the  Church  of  the  Round  Hill.”  St.  Elloc 
is  Patron  of  Templetown.  He  was  a younger  brother  of  St. 

Dubhan  of  the  Hook  or  Churchtown,  and  his  name  is  still 
remembered  in  the  Anglicised  form  of  St.  Elloc'sWell,“Toberluke.” 

All  previous  writers  follow  Ware  and  Brennan  in  assigning  to  the 
“ O’More  of  Leix  ” the  honour  of  founding  the  Preceptory  of 
Kilclogan  (Templetown),  but  it  appears  to  me  that  the  real  ♦ 

founder  was  Dermot  MacMurrough,  King  of  Leinster,  or  else 
O’Morchoe.  St.  Dubhan  is  venerated  on  February  nth.  Hisname 
means  “ a fishing  hook,”  and,  from  this  circumstance,  the  Rinn 
Dubhain  or  “ the  Point  of  St.  Dubhan,”  became  known  as  “ the 
Point  of  the  Hook,”  and  ultimately  “ the  Hook.”  Poulfur  (“  the 
cold  pool”)  was  one  of  the  earliest  grants  given  to  the  Knights 
Templars  of  Kilclogan.  In  1312  Kilclogan  passed  to  the  Knights 
Hospitallers — and  the  sum  total  of  its  revenue  was  given  as 
£ 140  4s.  6d.  It  then  held  the  churches  of  Kilclogan  and  Meelnagh, 
and  certain  tithes  at  Killurin.  The  Preceptory  was  suppressed  in 
1541,  and  by  an  Inquisition  held  in  that  year,  Kilclogan  was 
found  to  be  possessed  of  the  Rectories  of  Hook,  Templetown,  St. 

Michael’s  (Wexford),  Duncormick,  with  other  lands  and  tithes. 

Fethard  church  was  dedicated  to  St.  Aedan.  Both  the  manor 
and  the  church  belonged  to  the  Bishops  of  Ferns,  and  were 
confirmed  to  them  in  1245  again  in  1308  by  the  Prior  of 
Christ  Church,  Canterbury,  in  exchange  for  the  churches  of 
Bannow,  Kilcowan,  Kilmore,  Kilturk,  and  Tomhaggard.  In 


III 


1386  Maurice  Svveetman  was  Rector,  whose  successor,  in  1404, 
was  Thomas  Wogan.  From  the  15th  century  Fethard  was  the 
summer  residence  of  the  Bishops  of  Ferns.  The  church  was  a 
valuable  prebend,  and  was  enjoyed  by  Thomas  Purcell  from  1490 
to  1531.  Bishop  Purcell  (1519-1539)  resided  in  the  castle,  which 
was  situated  near  the  present  Rectory,  but  which  has  disappeared 
since  the  close  of  the  i8th  century.  This  castle  must  not  be 
confounded  with  the  present  Castle  of  Fethard,  built  by  the 
Buttons  of  Ballykerogue,  about  the  year  1380.  Bishop  Alexander 
Devereux  of  Ferns  died  at  Fethard  in  Jul5^  1566,  and  was  buried 
in  the  cemetery  of  the  church.  In  1534  William  Purcell  and 
Robert  Rothe  were  respectively  Rector  and  Vicar  of  Fethard, 
and  with  them  ended  the  old  Catholic  regime.  Fethard  was 
made  a Borough  in  1613,  and  returned  two  members  to  the  Irish 
Parliament  till  the  Union.  In  the  present  Protestant  church  is 
the  ancient  baptismal  font  belonging  to  Dunbrod3"  Abbey. 
Formerly  there  were  chapels  at  St.  Helen’s  (Houseland),  at  St. 
Brecaun's  (Portersgate),  and  at  Churchtown.  Templetown  is 
bounded  on  the  east  b\'  Bannow  Baj*  ; on  the  south  by  St. 
George’s  Channel  ; on  the  west  b}'  Waterford  Harbour  ; and  on 
the  north  by  Ramsgrange.  From  near  Mallin’s  Cross  the  stream 
flowing  into  Waterford  Harbour  and  separating  Balh^straw  from 
Ballinruan  completes  the  boundarj^  between  the  parishes  of 
Ramsgrange  and  Templetown.  The  Register  of  Baptisms  and 
Marriages  goes  back  to  the  j^ear  1792.  In  1801  Bishop  Caulfield 
returned  the  parish  as  worth  £115  a 3^ear,  with  one  curate. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Daniel  Magrane  was  P.P.  of  Fethard,  Templetown,  and 
Churchtown,  from  1686  till  his  death  in  1724.  His  will  was 
proved  in  the  latter  3'ear. 

Very  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon)  Broaders  (C.C.  of  Horetown 
from  1718  to  1724)  succeeded  Father  Magrane  in  1724,  and 
laboured  strenuously  for  almost  fifty  3'ears.  He  built  a modest 
church  at  Ramsgrange,  in  which  Bishop  Sweetman  held  a 
Visitation  and  Confirmation  in  1753.  He  was  Precentor  of  Ferns, 
and  his  silver  chalice,  dated  1742,  is  now  in  Ramsgrange. 


112 


According  to  a well-founded  tradition  Canon  Broaders  exorcised 
the  devil  out  of  Loftus  Hall,  and  certain  it  is  that  he  was  persona 
grata  with  the  Loftus  family,  utilising  his  interest  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Catholic  tenants  in  the  Hook  district.  At  his  death,  on 
January  17th,  1773,  a friendly  dispute  ensued  as  to  where  his 
remains  would  be  interred,  but  the  people  of  Horetown  carried 
their  point,  and  Canon  Broaders  was  buried  in  Horetown,  where 
there  is  an  altar  tomb  erected  to  his  memory,  on  which  is  a Latin 
inscription  as  follows  : — “ Hie  jacet  corpus  Rev^‘-  Thomae 
Broaders  V.G.  Fern.  Obiit  17  Januarii,  1773,  anno  natus  73.” 

Rev.  Anthony  Broaders,  a nephew  of  the  preceding  Pastor, 
was  P.P.  from  1773  till  his  death  on  May  27th,  1789.  His  will 
was  proved  in  1789.  He  is  described  as  P.P.  of  St.  James’s  and 
the  Hook.  He  built  a small  church  at  Templetown  in  an 
obscure  situation.  His  remains  were  interred  in  Templetown 
cemetery,  where  there  is  a fine  limestone  slab  inscribed  as 
follows 

“ Here  lies  the  Reverend  Anthony  Broaders 
Who  to  the  Church  did  plight  his  troth  ; 

See  by  the  Cross,  Host,  and  Chalice, 

The  emblems  of  his  sacred  office  ; 

Years  26  he  fed  this  district. 

Which  number  doubled  closed  his  exit. 

In  1789  subtil  death  snatched  him  away.” 

Rev.  Gregory  Browne,  P.P.  of  Suttons  Parish,  was  transferred 
to  the  Hook  in  May,  1789,  and  laboured  till  his  death  on  October 
i8th,  1792. 

Rev.  Robert  Barron,  P.P.  of  Suttons  Parish,  was  P.P.  of  St. 
James’s  and  the  Hook  from  November  3rd,  1792  to  1815.  He 
lived  at  Curraghmore,  Ramsgrange,  and  was  interred  at  Ballyhack, 
in  the  family  vault  of  the  Barrons  of  Killesk.  In  1793  he  built  a 
substantial  cruciform  church  at  Templetown— now  used  as  a 
parochial  hall. 

Rev.  Edward  O’Flaherty,  C.C.  of  the  Hook  from  1802  to  1815, 
was  made  P.P.  of  the  Hook  in  the  latter  year.  His  curates  were 
Rev.  Peter  Corish  (sent  to  Gorey  in  1822)  ; Rev.  Jeremiah 
Gormacon  (made  P.P.  of  Suttons  in  1825)  ; Rev.  David  Hore 

113 


1 


(sent  to  Ferns  in  1829)  ; Rev.  P.  Marshall  (sent  to  Tintern  in 
1834)  ; Rev.  Walter  Harpur  (sent  to  Glynn  in  1830)  ; Rev. 
Edward  Kavanagh,  Rev.  Nicholas  Purcell,  and  Rev.  Richard 
Stafford.  During  his  pastorate  he  built  three  chapels,  two 
presbyteries,  and  two  schools.  He  died  on  July  loth,  1835,  and 
was  buried  in  Poulfur  church,  in  which  there  is  a monument 
bearing  the  following  epitaph*  : — 

“ Deo  Optimo  Maximo. 

“ Beneath  this  monument  are  deposited  the  mortal  remains 
of  the  Rev.  Edward  O’Flaherty,  P.P.  of  the  united  parishes  of  St. 
James  and  Templetown.  His  laborious  life  in  the  vineyard  of 
the  Lord  closed  on  the  loth  day  of  Jul}-,  1835,  in  the  73rd  year  of 
his  age,  amid  the  tears  and  benedictions  of  his  beloved  flock. 
The  primitive  simplicity,  unaffected  pietj’',  and  pure  intention  of 
his  conversation  and  conduct  won  the  affection  of  all  who  knew 
him.  Three  chapels,  two  schoolhouses,  and  two  presbyteries, 
erected  during  his  administration  of  thirty-five  5'ears,  are 
monuments  of  his  pastoral  zeal  and  of  the  cordial  co-operation 
of  a generous  people.  He  died  as  he  lived,  a good  Christian 
priest,  poor  in  the  perishable  wealth  of  this  world,  but  rich  in 
the  treasures  of  grace  and  good  works  that  endureth  forever. 
Requiescat  in  pace.  Amen.” 

Very  Rev.  George  (Canon)  Murph}^  C.C.  of  Wexford  since 
September,  1820,  was  appointed  P.P.  of  the  Hook  on  October  ist, 
1835.  He  had  a pastorate  of  over  twenty  seven  years,  and  died 
on  March  17th,  1863.  After  his  death  the  parish  was  divided  into 
Ramsgrange  and  Templetown — the  former  becoming  a separate 
parish. 

Rev.  William  Codd,  C.C.  of  the  Hook  since  February,  1835, 
was  appointed  Adm.  of  Templetown  and  Poulfur  in  May,  1862, 
and  was  made  first  P.P.  of  Templetown,  in  the  new  arrangement 
on  March  17th,  1863.  After  a pastorate  of  three  years  he  resigned 
in  December,  1866,  and  died  in  April,  1874.  He  lived  at  Poulfur, 
and  is  buried  there. 

Very  Rev.  James  (Canon)  Lyng,  C.C.  of  the  Hook  from  1849 
to  1853,  and  of  Taghmon  since  1853,  wms  made  Adm.  of  Temple- 

•The  wording  of  the  epitaph— save  the  name  and  date— is  the  same  as  that 
on  the  tomb  of  Father  Peter  Doyle  of  Tintern  in  1831  (see  Tintern). 


town  in  December,  1866,  and  succeeded  to  the  pastorate  in  April, 
1874.  He  died  on  March  9th,  1881. 

Rev.  Richard  Kelly,  C.C.  of  Templetown  since  1862,  was 
promoted  Pastor  on  March  22nd,  1881,  but  only  lived  five  years. 
When  C.C.  of  Templetown  he  built  the  present  substantial 
parochial  house,  now  occupied  by  Father  Clone}'.  He  died  on 
May  6th  1886*. 

Very  Rev.  William  (Canon^  Sinnott,  C.C.  of  Ballymore  since 
1879,  was  appointed  P P.  on  June  ist,  1886.  He  took  up  his 
residence  at  Templetown,  and  built  the  present  beautiful  Gothic 
church,  in  1896.  It  was  dedicated  to  All  Saints,  St.  Dubhan,  and 
St.  Elloc.  Canon  Sinnott  died  on  March  i8th,  1911,  aged  78. 

Rev.  Thomas  Cloney,  Adm.  of  Wexford  since  1908,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  April  20th,  1911,  and  is  the  present  Pastor. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

Finn  Mac  Cumhal  resided  for  a time  at  Rinn  Dubhain,  also 
known  as  Rinn  Chinn  Aisi.  The  old  church  of  Churchtown  is 
now  ruinous,  but  it  contains  some  interesting  monuments.  Hook 
Lighthouse  is  the  most  ancient  in  Ireland,  and  was  formerly 
looked  after  by  the  Austin  Canons,  whose  church  (St.  Dubhan’s! 
adjoins  the  Tower  of  Hook.  Brecaun  church  (St  Breccan’s)  is  in 
Portersgate,  and  is  on  the  edge  of  the  cliff,  but  the  cemetery  has 
disappeared.  An  Ogham  stone  was  discovered  in  the  ruins  in 
1854,  commemorating.  Setna,  grandson  of  Dearc  Mosaig,  son  of 
Cathair  Mor,  King  of  Ireland,  a.d.  120-122.  In  Fethard  church- 
yard is  a fine  Anglo-Norman  tomb,  on  which  is  inscribed : — 
“ Thomas  de  Ancayne  gist.  Deu  de  sa  alme  eit  merci.  Amen.” 

Houseland  Castle,  Slade  Castle,  and  Kilclogan  Castle,  give 
evidence  of  the  former  importance  of  this  district.  As  previously 
stated,  the  old  castle  of  Fethard  has  disappeared,  but  there  is  a 


^During  the  Autumn  of  18S4,  owing  to  the  removal  of  the  Rev.  David 
Walsh,  C.C.,  to  Castlebridge,  the  sympathisers  of  the  Land  League  wished  to 
have  him  recalled,  but  the  Bishop  appointed  Rev.  John  Lyng  on  November 
1st.  The  people  then  closed  the  church  at  Templetown  and  refused  admission 
to  Father  Lyng,  who  was  transferred  to  Newtownbarry  on  February  ist,  1885. 
The  church  remained  closed  till  May  15th,  1885,  when  Rev.  John  Hanley  was 
sent  as  C.C.  Father  Hanley  died  on  May  30th,  1888. 


II5 


more  modern  castle,  built  before  the  close  of  the  14th  century. 
St.  Helen’s  Well  is  in  Houseland. 

The  inscribed  stone  at  Baginbun  is  a “ fake,”  as  is  also  the 
one  in  Fethard  Castle.  As  to  the  derivation  of  the  place-name 
there  is  much  difference  of  opinion,  but  I fancy  it  has  some 
connection  with  the  provenance  of  Shelbaggan.  The  suggestion 
that  “ Bag”  and  “ Bun”  were  two  mythical  ships  of  the  early 
Anglo-Normans  is  akin  to  the  “ Hook”  and  “ Crook”  derivation,  or 
of  Mr.  Leigh’s  equation  of  Fethard  as  “ Fight  Hard.”  Redmond’s 
Hall  was  re-christened  Loftus  Hail  in  1675,  and  the  “ Hall”  itself 
was  repaired  by  Henry  Loftus,  who  died  in  1716.  The  present 
Loftus  Hall  was  built  in  1871-3.  The  Loftus  family  also  acquired 
Dungulph  Castle. 


Parish  of  Tmtcrn 


The  name  of  “ Tintern”  got  applied  to  the  parish  by  reason  of  the 
fact  that  William  Marshall,  in  1201,  founded  a Cistercian  Abbey 
at  this  place,  and  called  it  after  the  English  Tintern  Abbey  on  the 
Wye,  in  Monmouthshire.  The  place  itself  was  known  as  Kinnagh 
(Bannow  Lough),  and  it  was  an  episcopal  manor  of  the  See  of 
Ferns.  As  will  be  seen  under  Bannow,  the  parish  of  Tintern  was 
formerly  included  in  Bannow'.  As  late  as  1425  the  monks  of  the 
Irish  Tintern  Abbey  had  to  pay  a pension  of  thirteen  marks  annually 
to  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Canterbury  for  certain  lands.  The 
parish  church  of  Kinnagh  was  appropriated  to  Tintern  Abbey  in 
1390.  The  Abbey  was  dissolved  in  1340.  It  held  the  Rectories 
of  Bannow',  Kilcowan,  Kilmore,  Kilturk,  Nash,  Ballygarvan, 
ClOnmines,  Tintern,  Whitechurch,  and  St.  Mullins ; as  well  as 
lands  at  St.  Kieran’s,  St.  Leonard’s,  Owenduff,  Killegny,  the 
Saltees,  etc.  In  1562  Anthony  Colclough  acquired  the  lease  of 
Tintern  and  its  possessions,  which  his  descendants  hold  to  this 
day,  and  in  1576  he  was  granted  the  whole  property  for  ever,  at 
a rent  of  £26  4s.  annually.  Sir  Anthony  Colclough  died  on 
December  Qth,  1384,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  Catholic  church 
of  Kinnagh  (Tintern)— now  ruinous — where  there  is  a'  fine 
monument  to  his  memory. 

In  1801  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  as  valued  at  £60 
a year ; with  two  curates.  The  parish  Register  goes  back  to 
1827-8. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  John  M'lriall  (Macreal)  was  Pastor  of  Kinnagh  from 
1690  till  his  death  in  1736.  He  resided  at  Killesk,  and  registered 
himself  in  1704.  After  a pastorate  of  forty-six  years,  he  died  on 
July  24th,  1736,  and  was  interred  in  Ballyhack.  Father  Michael 


Downes  was  his  curate,  but,  in  order  to  defeat  the  law,  registered 
himself,  in  1704,  as  P.P.  of  Dunbrody  and  Owenduff— residing  at 
Ballygarvan. 

Rev.  Owen  Caulfield  was  Parish  Priest  of  Tintern  from  1736 
till  his  death  on  January  gth,  1746.  He  built  a thatched  chapel 
at  Ballycullane.  Through  the  kindness  of  the  Colclough  family 
he  was  permitted  to  keep  a classical  school  at  Saltmills,  where 
was  educated  his  nephew,  James  Caulfield,  afterwards  Bishop  of 
Ferns. 

Rev.  Michael  Downes  was  P.P.  from  1746  to  1750.  No 
particulars  of  his  pastorate  have  been  handed  down. 

Very  Rev.  Bernard  Downes  was  appointed  Pastor  in  1750, 
and  was  made  Dean  of  Ferns  in  1760.  His  church  was  at 
Clongeen.  By  special  indult  he  was  one  of  the  three  prelates  at 
the  consecration  of  Bishop  Caulfield  on  July  7th,  1782.  Dean 
Downes,  who  erected  the  old  church  of  St.  Mary’s  at  Tintern, 
resigned  in  1798,  and  died  in  1801. 

Very  Rev.  Peter  (Canon)  Doyle,  half-brother  of  the  great 
‘ J.K.L.,”  was  Adm.  of  Tintern  from  1798  to  1801,  and  succeeded  to 
the  pastorate  on  the  death  of  Dean  Downes.  At  this  date 
Ballycullane  was  the  parish  church  of  the  district.  Canon  Doyle 
broke  his  leg  in  1812,  in  hurrying  to  a sick  call,  and,  in  1828,  he 
utterly  broke  down  in  health.  Bishop  Doyle  wrote  to  him, 
apropos  of  his  will  ; — “ If  you  had  anything — and  you  have  not — 
you  should  remember  the  poor  of  your  parish.  Leave  your  watch 
and  a suit  of  vestments  to  Nicholas  Pierce,  as  he  is  the  only 
clergyman  descended  of  our  father  who  will  live  after  us.” 
Canon  Doyle's  generosity  was  such  that  he  left  merely  sufficient 
to  pay  his  debts  and  the  funeral  expenses.  He  died  on  August 
20th,  1831,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  chapel  of  Ballycullane, 
where  the  following  graceful  epitaph — written  by  Bishop  Doyle 
—may  yet  be  read  on  his  tomb 

“ Deo  Optimo  Maximo. 

“ Beneath  this  monument  are  deposited  the  mortal  remains 
of  the  Rev.  Peter  Doyle,  P.P.,  of  Tintern,  Rosegarland,  and  Inch. 
His  laborious  life  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  closed  on  20th  of 
August,  1831,  amid  the  tears  and  benedictions  of  his  beloved 


118 


flock.  The  primitive  simplicity,  unaffected  piety,  and  pure 
patriotism  of  his  conversation  and  conduct  won  the  affection  of 
all  who  knew  him.  Three  chapels,  two  presbyteries,  two  school- 
houses,  erected  during  his  administration  of  thirty-three  years  are 
memorials  of  his  pastoral  zeal  and  of  the  cordial  co-operation  of 
a generous  people.  He  died  as  he  lived,  a true  Christian  priest, 
poor  in  the  perishable  wealth  of  this  world,  but  rich  in  the 
treasures  of  grace  and  good  works  that  endureth  for  ever. 
Requiescat  in  pace.” 

Very  Rev.  Myles  Murphy,  first  President  of  St.  Peter’s 
College,  Wexford,  was  appointed  Pastor  of  Tintern  on  October 
27th,  1831.  Previously,  on  May  19th,  1828,  he  had  been  appointed 
Bishop  of  Ossory,  but  declined  the  high  honour.  Dr.  Murphy, 
who  was  V.G.  of  Ferns,  was  transferred  to  Wexford  on  October 
ist,  1835. 

Venerable  Andrew  (Archdeacon)  Barden,  who  had  been  C.C. 
of  Tintern  from  1827  to  1835,  and  of  the  Hook  since  February, 
1835,  was  promoted  on  October  ist  to  Tintern,  where  he  laboured 
zealously  for  over  twenty-six  years.  He  built  the  present  church 
of  Tintern  in  1839.  As  before  stated,  the  curacy  of  Clongeen  was 
formed  a separate  parish,  in  1847.  Archdeacon  Barden  resigned 
in  January,  1862,  and  died  at  Kinnagh  on  March  31st,  1864.  His 
epitaph  in  Ballycullane  church  is  as  follows  : — “ Of  your  charity 
pray  for  the  soul  of  the  V.  Rev.  Andrew  Barden,  P.P., 
Tintern,  V.G.,  Archdeacon  of  the  diocese  of  Ferns,  who  departed 
this  life  on  the  31st  of  March,  1864,  in  the  73rd  year  of  his  age, 
and  48th  of  his  ministry.  R.I.P.” 

Rev.  James  Keating,  C.C.  of  the  parish  for  over  twenty-five 
years  (October  12th,  1836,  to  January,  1862)  was  appointed  P.P. 
in  January,  1862,  but  resigned  in  October,  1864.  From  1865  to 
1881  he  was  a “ guest”  at  Mount  St.  Bernard’s  Abbey,  Coalville, 
Leicestershire,  and  in  the  latter  year  accepted  the  chaplaincy  to 
the  Poor  Servants  of  the  Mother  of  God  at  Brentford  (Middlesex). 
For  fully  twelve  years  he  ministered  to  the  convent,  and  died, 
after  a most  saintly  life,  on  February  19th,  1893,  aged  83,  being 
interred  at  Mortlake. 

Very  Rev.  Jeremiah  (Canon)  Hogan,  C.C.  of  Wexford  since 
1848,  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  on  October  15th,  1864.  He 


died  at  Beltyville,  near  Wexford,  on  August  24th,  1875.  The 
following  epitaph  appears  on  his  monument  in  Ballycullane  : — 
“ Pray  for  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Canon  Hogan,  born  in  Wexford, 
April  25,  1815  ; ordained  in  Rome,  Sept.  8,  1840  ; C.C.  Taghmon 
from  1843  to  1848,  and  in  Wexford  from  1848  to  1864;  P.P.  of 
Tintern  from  Oct.  15,  1864,  to  his  death,  Aug.  24,  1875.  Ora  pro 
E.  Hogan,  S.J.,  qui  hoc  fieri  fecit.” 

Rev.  Nicholas  Hore,  C.C.  of  Gorey  since  1873,  was  appointed 
P.P.  in  September,  1875,  but  was  transferred  to  Adamstown  in 
June,  1876. 

Rev.  Andrew  O’Farrell,  C.C.  of  Marshalstown  from  1861  to 
1876,  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  in  June,  1876.  He  died  on 
May  nth,  i88g. 

Very  Rev.  Joseph  (Canon)  Murphy,  C.C.  of  Ferns  since  1867, 
was  P.P.  from  June,  1889,  till  his  death  on  September  15th,  1897. 
He  was  much  interested  in  social  and  political  matters,  and  was 
a keen  defender  of  his  own  opinions. 

Very  Rev.  Thomas  O’Connor,  C.C.  of  Wexford  from  1877  to 
1897,  and  Adm.  for  some  months,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  October 
18th,  if)97,  and  is  the  present  Pastor. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

Tintern  Abbey  will  well  repay  a visit.  The  chancel  of  the 
church  has  been  converted  into  a beautiful  residence,  to  which 
some  additions  have  been  made,  including  a fine  conservatory 
and  extensive  gardens.  The  Colclough  family  have  inhabited  it 
since  1576.  The  village  of  Tintern  was  taken  down  in  1851,  and 
was  replaced  by  Saltmills,  on  the  western  side  of  the  inlet 
extending  from  Bannow  Bay  to  the  old  bridge  near  the  Abbey. 
There  is  a modern  bridge  on  the  opposite  side.  St.  Mary’s  old 
parish  church  (now  in  ruins)  is  near  the  Abbey  bridge,  as  is  also 
the  cemetery  and  Lady’s  Well. 

At  Ballycullane  are  the  remains  of  a former  church  and 
cemetery. 

St.  Leonard’s  is  a curacy  of  Tintern.  It  is  said  that  a hospital 
was  formerly  in  this  place.  Not  far  off  is  Wellington  Bridge  in 
the  townland  of  Maudlintown. 


120 


Tallagh,  or  Thorle,  half  way  between  Tintern  and  Clonmines, 
represents  the  old  chapelry  known  as  Chapel  Midway.  It  appears 
to  have  been  a cemetery,  as  is  implied  by  the  name  Tallagh  or 
Taulaught. 

There  is  preserved  in  the  British  Museum  an  impression 
of  the  seal  of  Tintern  Abbey,  used  by  John  Sutton,  Abbot  of 
Tintern, in  1494. 

The  ruins  still  remain  of  the  old  parish  church  of  Inch,  in  the 
townland  of  Kayle. 


131 


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Deanery  of  Wexford 


1.  Wexford. 

2.  Mayglass. 

3.  Bannow. 

4.  Blackwater. 

5.  Castlebridge. 

6.  Crossabeg. 

7.  Glynn. 


Parishes  of  : — 


8. 

Kilmore. 

9. 

Lady’s  Island. 

10. 

Piercestown. 

II. 

Rathangan. 

12. 

Taghmon. 

13- 

Tagoat. 

.Most  Rev.  Dr.  J.ames  Browne, 

Lord  Bishop  oj  Ferns. 

Cons.  14th  Sept.,  18S4— ORe/u  Dens  diu  incolumem  sennet 


Parish  of  Wexford 


The  present  mensal  parish  of  Wexford  represents  a union  of 
eleven  older  parishes,  namely,  SS.  Peter  and  Paul  (Selskar), 
St.  Iberius,  St.  Olave’s,  St.  Michael’s  of  Faythe,  Holy  Trinity,  St. 
Mary’s,  St.  Patrick’s,  St.  Mary  Magdalene’s,  St.  Brigid’s,  St.  Peter’s, 
and  St.  John’s.  A notice  of  Selskar  Priory  will  be  given 
separately.  St.  Olave’s,  or  St.  Toolock’s,  was  founded  circa  1060, 
and  was  appropriated  to  Selskar.  No  trace  of  it  now  remains  : 
it  occupied  the  spot  between  the  castle  and  the  rivulet  known  as 
Bishop’s  Water.  St.  Patrick’s  is  in  tolerable  preservation  and 
was  also  an  appropriation  of  Selskar.  St.  Mary’s  was  an  important 
church,  but  has  almost  disappeared.  In  1437  John  Purcell  was 
Rector.  It  was  purified  for  Catholic  use  in  1603,  and  was  again 
used  by  the  Catholics  in  1642-1649.  The  old  bell  is  now  in  the 
custody  of  the  Christian  Brothers.  John  Devereux,  first  Protestant 
Bishop  of  Ferns,  was  buried  in  St.  Mary’s  in  1578.  There  are  no 
remains  of  the  church  of  St.  Iberius  (St.  Ibar’s),  the  oldest  of  the 
Wexford  churches  : its  site  is  occupied  by  a modern  Protestant 
church.  St.  Michael’s  of  Faythe  is  said  to  have  been  erected  by 
the  Scandinavians.  It  has  long  since  disappeared,  but  the 
cemetery  is  still  occasionally  used.  Holy  Trinity  has  also 
disappeared  : it  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  castle.  A description  of 
it  was  given  by  M.  le  Gouz  in  1644.  Probably,  like  the  churches 
(of  the  Holy  Trinity)  in  Waterford  and  Dublin,  it  was  founded 
by  the  Scandinavians.  St.  iNIary  Magdalene's  was  appropriated 
to  Kilclogan.  A Leper  Hospital  was  attached  to  it,  and  the 
place-name  Maudlintown  is  a reminder  of  the  old  church  and 
hospital.  The  church  is  in  ruins,  and  not  far  off  is  St.  Mary’s 
W’dl,  St.  Brigid’s  (St.  Bride’s)  was  situated  between  St.  Michael’s 
and  St.  Peter’s— convenient  to  the  present  Bride  Street.  Not  a 
trace  of  the  church  remains.  St  Peter’s  has  also  disappeared,  as 


125 


has  also  the  ancient  cemetery — being  replaced  by  the  Old  Pound. 
The  church  was  known  as  St.  Peter’s  the  Less  to  distinguish  it 
from  Selskar  (SS.  Peter  and  Paul).  St.  John's  church  is  but  a 
memory  of  the  past,  but  formerly  it  was  of  considerable 
importance,  and  was  the  only  church  in  the  town  of  Wexford 
that  could  boast  of  a steeple.  It  belonged  to  the  Franciscan 
Friars  till  1540,  but  the  hospital  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist 
belonged  to  the  Knights  Hospitallers.  The  cemetery  contains 
many  monuments  of  interest,  including  those  of  John  Edward 
Redmond  and  John  Hyacinth  Talbot.  A 17th-century  writer 
(Robert  Leigh,  in  1684)  states  that  the  churches  of  St.  Peter,  St. 
Michael,  and  Holy  Trinity  were  demolished  b}'  the  Crom- 
%vellians. 

St.  Mary’s  church  is  said  to  have  been  the  last  used  by  the 
Catholics  till  the  erection  of  the  present  twin  churches  in  1858. 
Bishop  Wadding  was  buried  in  the  aisle  of  this  church  in 
December,  1691.  The  little  thatched  church  in  High  Street,  which 
he  built  in  the  summer  of  the  year  1673,  was  dismantled  in 
1692,  and  from  that  date  till  1858  the  Catholics  of  Wexford  had 
no  parochial  church,  being  content  to  use  the  chapel  of  the 
Franciscan  Friars. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Rochford  was  the  last  Catholic  Rector  of 
St.  Mary’s  under  the  old  regime  in  1550,  and  about  the  same 
time  Rev.  Stephen  Hay  was  Vicar  of  St.  Patrick’s.  Rev.  William 
Furlong,  O.Cist.,  laboured  in  Wexford  from  1599  to  1616.  Rev. 
William  Devereux  was  P.P.  and  V.G.  from  1614  to  1638,  -whose 
successor  was  Rev.  Dr.  Nicholas  French  (1638-1645) — appointed 
Bishop  of  Ferns  in  1645,  but  retaining  his  parish  in  comm  end  am 
till  1651  when  he  was  forced  to  go  into  exile.  From  1672  to 
1691  Bishop  Luke  Wadding  was  P.P.  of  Wexford.  In  his  letter 
of  May  4th,  1683,  he  describes  the  town  as  then  reduced  to  'five 
parishes,  and  the  number  of  Catholics  in  the  diocese  of  Ferns — 
close  on  20,000  in  1648 — as  scarcely  400 — to  whom  he  faithfully 
ministered  till  his  death  on  December  31st,  1691.  At  this  period 
there  were  but  twenty-one  priests  in  the  whole  diocese.  It  -wmuld 
appear  from  an  Inquisition  of  August  3rd,  1697,  that  at  that  date 
Pat.  Murphy  was  the  tenant  of  “ a thatched  Mass  House  in 
Back  St.” 


126 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  David  Roche  (a  distinguished  graduate  of  Louvain)  was 
P.P.  of  Wexford  from  1686  to  1727.  In  1704  he  registered 
himself  as  P.P.  of  St.  Iberius,  St.  Patrick,  St.  Olave,  St.  Michael, 
and  St.  John  and  St.  Brigid.  At  the  same  date  Rev.  Francis 
Esmond  registered  as  P.P.  of  St.  Peter’s,  Drinagh,  Kildavin, 
and  Rathaspeck.  Father  Esmond  died  in  1729.  Father  Roche 
founded  the  “ Roche”  burse  at  Louvain  in  1724. 

Rev.  Paul  Roche  (a  nephew  of  Father  David  Roche)  was  a 
distinguished  graduate  of  Louvain,  and  was  P.P.  of  M^xford 
from  1727  to  1735.  After  his  death.  Rev.  Thomas  Ryan,  O.F.M., 
administered  the  parish  for  about  twelve  months. 

Most  Rev.  Dr.  Sweetman  was  P.P.  from  1736  to  1745,  and 
after  his  consecration  as  Bishop  of  Ferns,  continued  to  act  as 
Pastor  till  1756.  In  1743  he  lodged  with  John  Murphy,  a shop- 
keeper, in  Back  Street,  and  had  Father  Walsh  as  his  assistant. 
In  1751  he  had  two  curates.  A friendly  agreement  was  signed 
by  Bishop  Sweetman  and  Father  Walter  Paye,  O F.M.,  Guardian 
of  the  Wexford  Convent,  on  January  14th,  1749,  whereby  the 
Friars  and  Pastor  were  to  receive  the  offerings  on  Sundays  and 
Holydays  alternately  ; and  the  chapel  was  to  be  used  in  common. 
Unfortunately  various  disputes  went  on  for  several  years  over 
the  chapel,  and  it  was  not  finally  settled  till  September  26th,  1761. 

Rev.  Edward  Devereux  Keating,  S.J.,  was  appointed  P.P.  of 
Wexford  by  a Papal  rescript,  dated  May  ist,  1756.  Father 
Devereux  (born  in  Wexford  in  1708)  became  a Jesuit,  in  Castile, 
on  May  ist,  1737,  and  was  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  Philosophy 
from  1741  to  1750.  He  was  sent  to  Wexford  in  the  latter  year. 
Bishop  Sweetman  made  a Visitation  of  the  parish  on  April  28th, 
1758,  and  highly  praised  the  zeal  of  Father  Keating.  After  a 
pastorate  of  close  on  twenty-one  years,  this  good  Jesuit  passed 
away  on  March  30th,  1777,  aged  69. 

Rev.  Walter  Herron— said  to  have  been  a Jesuit — was  P.P. 
from  1777  to  1780.  He  was  ordained  at  Paris  in  January,  1764, 
and  was  C.C.  of  Wexford  from  1766  to  1777. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Corrin,  ordained  at  Louvain  on 
May  29th,  1779,  was  appointed  P.P.  of  Wexford,  in  November, 
1780,  and  proved  himself  a most  zealous  and  devoted  pastor 


127 


during  a period  of  fifty-four  37ears.  On  July  4th,  1782,  he  was 
made  Treasurer  of  the  Chapter.  His  efforts  during  the  ’98  period 
were  productive  of  much  good.  He  died  on  April  4th,  1835,  aged 
86.  The  inscription  on  his  monument  (designed  by  Pugin)  in  the 
Franciscan  Friar}^  church  is  as  follows  : — 

“ Of  your  Charity 
Pray  for  the  repose  of  the  soul  of 
Very  Rev.  John  Corrin,  V.G.,  of  Ferns, 
who  lieth  buried  under  this  stone. 

He  was  Parish  Priest  of  Wexford  during  LIV  years,  and  so 
endeared  himself  to  everyone  that  all  men  esteemed  him  as  a 
friend,  and  his  flock  revered  him  as  a father.  In  deep  affliction 
for  the  loss  of  such  a pastor,  the  people,  by  public  subscription, 
erected  this  monument  to  his  memory.  On  whose  soul  and  all 
Christian  souls  Jesus  have  merc3^  Amen. 

Jesus,  Mercy  ! 4*  Blessed  Lady,  Help  ! 

I beg  you  all  who  this  do  see 
Pray  for  my  soul  for  charity. 

For  as  I now  am,  so  j'ou  shall  be. 

Pater  Noster.  •h  Ave  Maria. 

In  December,  1833,  Rev.  James  Lacy,  C.C.  of  Ferns  was 
appointed  third  curate  in  Wexford,  replacing  Rev,  George 
Murphy. 

Very  Rev.  Myles  Murphy,  P.P.  of  Tintern,  was  transferred  to 
Wexford  on  October  ist,  1835.  He  built  a presbyteiy  in  Waterloo 
Road  in  1840.  Rev.  John  Barry,  C.C.  of  Wexford  since  1830, 
was  sent  to  Rathangan  in  October,  1843,  and  was  replaced  bj^ 
Rev.  Denis  Kenny.  Four  j^ears  later,  in  October,  1847,  Rev. 
James  Lacy  (C.C.  since  December,  1833,)  was  made  P.P.  of 
Gorey  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William  Murph\".  After  a 
pastorate  of  fourteen  years,  Dr.  Murphy,  on  the  death  of  Bishop 
Keating,  was  recommended  for  the  bishopric  of  Ferns,  and  was 
approved  by  the  Pope  on  November  nth,  1849,  being  duly 
consecrated  on  March  loth,  1850. 

Very  Rev.  Dr.  John  Sinnott,  President  of  St.  Peter’s  College, 
Wexford,  was  appointed  P.P.,  and  also  V.G.,  on  March  13th, 
1850,  but  he  never  took  up  the  pastoral  cure,  owing  to  ill  health, 
and  he  died  on  May  27th,  same  year.  His  remains  were  interred 


128 


in  'the  Franciscan  Church,  where  there  is  a memorial  tablet 
commemorating  his  learning  and  virtues. 

Very  Rev.  James  (Canon)  Roche  (P.P.  of  Ferns  from  1840  to 
1850)  laboured  as  P.P.  of  Wexford  from  June,  1850,  till  his  death 
on  March  14th,  1883.  The  name  of  Canon  Roche  will  be 
imperishably  associated  with  the  two  beautiful  churches  which 
adorn  the  town  of  Wexford.  After  his  death.  Bishop  Warren, 
on  September  I2th,  1883,  made  the  parish  mensal,  and  divided  it 
into  two  districts,  wdth  Rev.  Luke  Doyle  and  Rev.  Michael  Kelly 
as  respective  Adms.  of  Bride  Street  and  of  Rowe  Street. 

Father  Kelly,  Adm.,  died  on  July  12th,  1889,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Edward  Aylward  (1889-1897),  Rev.  Thomas 
O’Connor  (1897),  Rev.  Patrick  Doyle  (1897-1907),  Rev.  Patrick 
O’Connor  (1907-1908),  Rev.  Thomas  Clone}’  (1908-1911),  and  Rev. 
Thomas  Hore— the  present  Adm. 


Church  of  the  Assumption  (Bride  Street). 

As  previously  stated,  there  w'as  no  parochial  church  in 
Wexford  from  1691  to  1858,  the  only  Catholic  place  of  worship 
being  the  Franciscan  Friary.  Not  long  after  the  appointment 
of  Father  James  Roche,  that  zealous  pastor  conceived  the  idea 
of  erecting  two  churches,  and,  on  June  27th,  1851,  the  foundation 
stone  of  the  church  of  St.  Michael  and  St.  Brigid,  under  the  title 
of  the  Assumption,  was  laid  by  Bishop  Murphy.  The  first  Mass 
was  celebrated  in  the  new  church  on  April  i8th,  1858,  and  it  was 
dedicated  on  September  nth,  1859,  in  presence  of  Bishop  Furlong, 
Bishop  McNally,  Bishop  Whelan,  Bishop  Moriarty  (who  preached 
on  that  occasion),  and  Bishop  Barry.  By  the  extraordinarj^ 
exertions  of  Canon  Roche,  the  new  church  ivas  freed  from  debt, 
and  was  solemnly  consecrated  on  September  5th,  i860.  Pontifical 
High  Mass  was  sung  by  Bishop  Whelan,  and  the  sermon  was 
preached  by  Archbishop  MacHale  of  Tuam.  The  church  is  in 
the  decorated  Gothic  style,  and  it  occupies  portion  of  the  site 
once  occupied  by  the  church  of  St.  Brigid.  It  is  one  hundred  and 
sixty-six  feet  in  length  ; sixty  feet  wude  ; and  seventy  feet  in 
height,  with  a spire  two  hundred  and  twenty-two  feet  high. 


129 


K 


Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  (Rowe  Street). 

The  foundation  stone  of  this  church  was  laid  by  Bishop 
Murphy  on  the  same  day  as  that  of  the  church  of  the  Assumption, 
and  both  churches  are  justly  regarded  as  twins.  The  first  Mass 
w'as  celebrated  in  this  church  on  April  25th,  1858,  and  the  sermon 
was  preached  by  Bishop  Furlong.  Both  churches  were  designed 
by  Willis  and  Pierce,  in  Pugin’s  style,  and  both  were  built  at  a 
cost  of  about  £’i6,ooo  each.  Canon  Roche  was  a magnificent 
“ beggar,”  and  he  succeeded  in  collecting  about  £32,000  to  defray 
the  cost  of  these  two  glorious  temples — an  imperishable  record  of 
single-handed  work  as  a church  builder.  A beautiful  statue  of 
this  great  priest  was  unveiled  by  the  present  revered  Bishop  on 
St.  Patrick’s  Day,  1887,  on  the  north  side  of  the  church  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception.  It  is  the  work  of  Sir  Thomas  Farrell. 

Canon  Roche  died  on  March  14th,  1S83,  in  the  82nd  year  of 
his  age,  and  the  33rd  of  his  pastoral  charge  of  Wexford,  and  his 
remains  were  interred  in  the  church  of  the  Assumption. 

The  church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  and  St.  John  the 
Baptist  was  dedicated  on  Sunday,  October  3rd,  1858,  by  Bishop 
Furlong.  Pontifical  High  Mass  was  sung  by  Bishop  Walsh  of 
Kildare  and  Leighlin,  and  the  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Most 
Rev.  Dr.  Leahy,  O.P  , Bishop  of  Dromore.  In  1866  Canon  Roche 
was  presented  with  a silver  chalice  made  in  1727,  and  bearing  on 
its  hexagonal  base  the  inscription  : “ Ora  pro.  P.  F.  Jacobe 
Comerford  qui  me  fieri  fecit  pro  Conventu  Ff.  Min.,  Kilk.  an 
1727.”  In  June,  1868,  he  inaugurated  the  Forty  Hours'  Devotion 
in  this  church.  He  was  Vicar  Capitular  from  the  time  of  Bishop 
Furlong’s  demise  till  the  appointment  of  Bishop  Warren,  in  1876. 
Although  Canon  Roche  was  buried  in  the  church  of  the 
Assumption,  his  obsequies  were  celebrated  in  the  church  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception.  His  brother.  Rev.  John  Roche,  O.F.M., 
is  still  alive  in  his  91st  year,  while  his  nephew  is  the  Most  Rev. 
Dr.  Brownrigg,  Bishop  of  Ossory. 

Selskar  Priory. 

The  Priory  of  Selskar,  dedicated  to  SS.  Peter  and  Paul,  was 
founded  for  Austin  Canons  about  the  year  1199  or  1200.  An 
absurd  tradition  credits  its  foundation  to  the  Danes,  but  the  date 


130 


\ ERY  Rev.  James  Roche,  F.F.,  W exford 
1850— 18S3. 


cannot  be  earlier  than  the  last  year  or  two  of  the  12th  century. 
Selskar  (a  corruption  of  St.  Sepulchre)  owes  its  origin  to  the 
Roche  family,  and  it  was  well  endowed.  In  1240  a Synod  was 
held  in  the  Priory  presided  over  by  Bishop  St.  John.  In  the  first 
decade  of  the  14th  century  a certain  Robert  was  Prior,  whose 
successor  was  Stephen  (1340-1360).  The  Canons  acquired  the 
church  of  Ardcolm,  in  1402,  and  of  St.  Nicholas  of  Carrick  in  1420. 
Thomas  was  Prior  from  1430  to  1445  ; and  Patrick  appears  as 
Prior  in  1516.  The  last  Prior  was  John  Heygharne  (Hatharne), 
who  became  Vicar  of  St.  Patrick’s  in  1541.  At  the  Dissolution 
the  Prior  and  Canons  held  the  churches  of  St.  Patrick,  St.  Olave, 
SS.  Peter  and  Paul,  Killiane,  Kilmochree,  Ishartmon,  St.  Iberius, 
St.  Margaret’s,  Ballynaslane}^  Tikillen,  Killesk,  St.  Nicholas, 
Ballyvaldon,  Carrick,  and  Ardcolm — as  well  as  various  manors 
and  lands. 

The  ruins  are  well  worthy  of  a visit,  and  the  tower  is  still 
in  good  preservation.  The  beauty  of  the  spot  is  marred  by  a 
modern  Protestant  church.  There  are  some  ancient  monuments 
in  the  Priory,  including  a stone  coffin,  and  a sepulchral  slab  of 
the  early  17th  century. 

RELIGIOUS  HOUSES. 

I. — Franciscan  Friary. 

The  Franciscan  Friary  was  originally  founded  in  1230  by 
William  Marshall,  jun.,  and  the  Friars  were  given  the  church  of 
St.  John  and  St.  Brigid.  In  i486  the  Friars  adopted  the  Stricter 
Observance,  and  they  laboured  zealously  till  the  Dissolution,  in 
1540,  when  the  Friary  was  granted  to  Paul  Turner  and  James 
Devereux.  In  1554  Devereux  sold  his  share  to  Turner,  who  made 
it  over  to  Rev.  Stephen  Hay  and  Rev.  Robert  Cheevers  in  trust 
for  the  Friars.  Unfortunately,  the  accession  of  Elizabeth  put  an 
end  to  the  old  regime,  and  the  Friars  were  unable  to  get  back 
their  property.  However,  some  of  them  remained  in  the  town 
and  waited  for  better  days. 

In  1615  Father  John  Synnott,  who  had  laboured  in  the  diocese 
since  1600,  and  was  reported  to  the  Government  in  1612,  opened 
a new  convent  in  Wexford,  at  the  request  of  the  Provincial, 


Father  Donagh  Mooney.  At  that  date  the  old  Friary  had  become 
ruinous,  and  the  roof  had  fallen  in.  Father  Synnott  rented  a 
house  in  High  Street,  and  built  a thatched  chapel  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street,  on  the  space  now  occupied  by  the  People 
Printing  Works.  This  was  in  1620.  F ather  .Synnott  continued  as 
Guardian  from  1615  to  1630,  and,  in  1632,  he  presided,  as 
Commissary  Visitator,  at  the  Chapter  held  at  Meelick. 

Father  Richard  Synnott  was  Guardian  from  1635  to  1642, 
when  he  was  appointed  Guardian  of  Enniscorthy.  He  returned 
to  Wexford  in  1646,  and  was  Guardian  till  1649.  His  successor 
was  Father  Francis  Stafford,  who  was  ordered  to  be  transported 
under  the  Cromwellian  regime. 

On  October  nth,  1649,  when  Oliver  Cromwell  committed 
frightfulness  in  Wexford  town,  including  the  massacre  of  three 
hundred  defenceless  people*  at  the  Market  Cross,  seven  Franciscan 
Friars  of  Wexford  were  martyred.  Their  names  are  : — Revv. 
Richard  Synnott,  John  Esmonde,  Paul  Synnott,  Raymond 
Sta.fford,  Peter  Stafford,  Didacus  Cheevers,  and  Joseph  Rochford, 
and  their  “ cause”  is  at  present  before  the  Holy  See  for 
beatification. 

Father  Francis  Stafford  (together  with  Father  Thomas  Hore 
and  Father  Thomas  Hanton)  lay  in  prison  till  1659,  at  which 
date  he  was  dispensed  from  transportation  by  reason  of  age  and 
infirmities.  In  1672-5  Father  Peter  O’Connell  was  Guardian. 

The  old  Friary  and  gardens,  which  had  been  allotted  to 
Captain  William  Ivory,  in  1655,  were  confirmed  to  that  individual 
in  1667.  Ivory  paid  a rent  for  the  Friary  and  seven  acres  of  land — 
of  eighteen  shillings  and  two  pence  three  farthings  ! However,  in 
1688,  the  Friars  got  back  their  old  convent  (through  the  good 
offices  of  the  Colclough  and  Plunkett  families) — the  then  Guardian 
being  Father  Mark  Cheevers— and  were  enabled  to  build  a 
modest  church  partly  on  the  site  of  the  church  of  St.  John  and 
St.  Brigid.  This  church  did  duty  as  the  parochial  church  of 
Wexford  from  1690  to  1858.  Father  Anthony  Molloy,  Guardian, 
was  ordered  to  be  transported  on  April  24th,  1702. 

Father  Ambrose  O’Callaghan,  who  had  been  Guardian  of 
Wexford  Convent  from  1721  to  1729,  was  appointed  Bishop  of 

♦The  actual  number  of  women  alone  who  were  massacred  was  two 
hundred,  as  is  testified  in  a pamphlet  printed  in  London  in  1682. 


132 


Ferns  in  1729,  and  ruled  till  1744.  He  built  a lodge  adjoining 
the  Friary  on  ground  given  by  Mr.  Edward  Sutton.  Owing  to  the 
Penal  Laws  he  had  to  assume  the  name  of  “ Dr.  Walker.” 

Father  F.  Thomas  (Anthony)  Ryan  was  Guardian  from  1729 
to  1744,  and  was  succeeded  by  Father  Walter  Paye  (1744-1754), 
who  lived  in  the  lodge  after  the  death  of  Bishop  O’Callaghan. 
The  Mayor  of  Wexford  (William  Harve}^  in  n return  to  the 
Government  dated  March  Gth,  1744,  says  that  Bishop  O’Callaghan 
had  “built  a dwelling  house  adjoining  the  Friary  and  Mass 
House,  which  Mass  House  is  as  handsome  an  edifice  as  any 
perhaps  of  that  kind  in  Ireland.”  He  adds; — “The  Friary  and 
Mass  House  are  built  on  the  foundation  of  an  old  Monastery  and 
is  now  the  estate  of  Arthur  Neville  Jones,  Esq.  I am  told  this 
gentleman,  or  his  father,  reversed  the  lease  to  a trustee,  one 
[Edward]  Sutton,  who  took  it  for  the  use  of  the  clergy  and  the 
public  service  of  their  religion  ; and  this  was  done  before  the 
registration  of  the  former  lease,  for  which  reason  some  gentlemen 
of  my  acquaintance  talk  much  of  filing  a Bill  of  Discovery.” 

From  Bishop  Sweetman’s  Examination  in  December,  1751,  it 
appears  that  Fathers  Paye,  Granuell,  and  McDonagh  were  then 
resident  in  the  Friary.  Father  Bonaventure  Paye,  ex- Provincial, 
died  July  i6th,  1761. 

In  1764  Amyas  Griffith  writes  thus  : — “ In  John  St.,  N.W.  of 
the  town,  is  the  Chapel ; it  is  one  of  the  prettiest  I have  ever  seen, 
with  a Friary,  garden,  etc.,  belonging  to  it.  The  Chapel  yard  is 
esteemed  the  best  walk  about  the  town.”  Father  John  Ivory, 
Guardian,  died  on  December  15th,  1793.  and  Father  Broe  died 
May  i8th,  1803. 

Not  long  after  Father  Corrin’s  appointment  as  P.P.  of 
Wexford  in  1781,  the  Friary  chapel  was  rebuilt,  conjointly  by  the 
Friars  and  the  parish.  In  1812  it  was  enlarged  by  an  additional 
wing  extending  north  of  the  eastern  gable,  and,  in  1827,  a further 
enlargement  took  place,  by  the  erection  of  side  galleries.  Finally, 
in  1857,  the  transept  gallery,  the  side  galleries,  and  the  western 
gallery,  were  removed,  and  the  church  was  remodelled  and 
considerably  improved.  These  extensive  improvements  were 
carried  out  owing  to  the  fortunate  circumstance  that  the  site  of 
the  church,  convent  and  grounds,  having  come  into  the  Incum- 
bered Estates  Court,  was  purchased  by  the  Friars  in  fee  simple. 


133 


There  are  some  interesting  monuments  in  the  Friary  church 
including  memorials  to  Bishop  Caulfield,  Bishop  Lambert,  Bishop 
Hughes,  Rev.  Father  Corrin,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Sinnott.  It  may  be 
added  that  the  library  (the  convent  was  erected  by  Rev. 
Richard  Walsh  in  1803)  contains  some  rare  works  formerly 
belonging  to  St.  Antony’s,  Louvain : the  MSS.,  however,  were 
transferred  to  the  Franciscan  Convent,  Merchants’  Quay,  Dublin. 
Very  Rev.  James  Walsh,  O.F.M.,  Provincial,  was  connected  with 
the  Wexford  convent  for  thirty-three  years,  and  died  in  the  Friary 
on  February  7th,  1844. 

The  present  Guardian  is  Very  Rev.  T.  A.  Moloney,  and  the 
Community  includes  the  veteran  Friars,  Father  John  Roche 
(ordained  23rd  December,  1848)  and  Father  P.  F.  Kavanagh,  the 
historian  of  ’98. 

II.— St.  Peter's  College. 

In  the  closing  years  of  the  i8th  century  the  Franciscan  Friars 
opened  a classical  academj'  in  Peter  Street  (Gibson’s  Lane),  the 
President  of  which  was  Father  Patrick  Lambert,  who  was 
appointed  first  Bishop  of  Newfoundland  in  1806.  His  successor 
was  his  nephew,  Father  Thomas  Scallan,  O.F.M.,  who  was  made 
second  Bishop  of  Newfoundland,  in  1816.  Bishop  Ryan,  seeing 
the  need  of  a Diocesan  College  for  Ferns,  determined  to  establish 
one,  but,  pending  the  foundation  of  such  an  establishment,  he 
opened  a Seminar}^  at  Bunker’s  Hill  (now  known  as  Michael 
Street,  off  King  Street),  in  1811,  with  Rev.  Dr.  Myles  Murphy, 
who  had  read  a most  brilliant  course  in  Maynooth  College,  as 
first — and  only — President.  The  three  successive  assistant  Pro- 
fessors in  this  Seminary  were  Mr.  Joseph  Clinch,  Rev.  Richard 
Haj'^es,  O.F.M.,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Sinnott.  Mr.  Clinch  had  to  retire 
in  November,  1813,  owing  to  ill-health  (he  died  in  1816) ; Father 
Hayes  laboured  from  November,  1813,  to  July,  1814;  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Sinnott  was  Professor  from  September,  1814,  till  the  Seminary 
closed  in  i8ig.  Meantime,  funds  had  been  accumulating  for  a 
Diocesan  College,  especially  a bequest  from  Archdeacon 
Devereux,  P.P.  of  Kilmore  (1794) ; and,  in  April,  1818,  the 
foundation  stone  was  laid  of  St.  Peter's  College,  on  a splendid 
site  at  Summer  Hill,  on  lands  belonging  to  John  Edward  and 
Walter  Redmond.* 

‘John  Edward  Redmond  was  the  great  grandfather  of  Mr.  John  E. 
liedmond,  M.P. 


134 


St.  Peter’s  College,  Wexford. 


In  September,  1819,  St.  Peter’s  College  was  opened  by  Bishop 
Keating,  and  the  first  President  was  Rev.  Dr.  Myles  Murphy,  who 
transferred  the  staff  and  students  of  the  old  Seminary  thither. 
For  ten  years  Dr.  Murphy  laboured  zealously,  and,  at  length,  in 
1829,  he  was  given  the  pastorate  of  Tintern,  being  subsequently 
transferred  to  Wexford,  and  eventuall}- promoted  to  the  bishopric 
of  Ferns. 

Very  Rev.  Dr.  John  Sinnott  was  appointed  President  in  1829, 
and  he  at  once  infused  such  life  into  the  college  that  additional 
buildings  became  a necessit}".  These  included  a refectory,  class 
rooms,  and  a handsome  square  tower  in  the  centre.  Through  the 
kindness  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Talbot,  the  services  of  the  great  Pugin  were 
soon  afterwards  requisitioned,  and,  on  the  i8th  of  June,  1838, 
Bishop  Keating  laid  the  foundation  stone  of  the  present  beautiful 
collegiate  church — the  first  of  Pugin’s  creations  in  Ireland.  Two 
years  later,  in  1840,  the  church  was  solemnly  dedicated  by  Bishop 
Keating,  assisted  by  Bishop  Browne  of  Kilmore,  and  Bishop 
M'alsh  of  Halifax.  Dr.  Sinnott  was  made  P.P.  of  Wexford  in 
April,  1850,  but  he  died  on  May  27th,  before  taking  over  the 
duties. 

Very  Rev.  Laurence  Kirwan  was  President  from  1850  till 
1858,  when  he  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Piercestown. 
During  the  eight  years  of  his  presidency  he  cleared  off  the  debt  on 
the  new  buildings,  and  placed  the  college  in  a flourishing 
condition. 

Very  Rev.  P.  C.  Sheridan  took  over  the  presidency  in 
September,  1858,  and  laboured  zealously  till  1873,  when  he  was 
given  the  pastorate  of  Bannow.  During  Canon  Sheridan’s  term 
of  office,  the  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Furlong,  Bishop  of  Ferns,  took  up  his 
residence  in  the  college,  and  he  added  new  buildings  at  a cost  of 
over  T6,ooo.  He  gave  a banquet  to  Cardinal  Cullen  at  St.  Peter’s 
College,  on  September  30th,  1869.  This  good  Bishop  died  in  the 
college  on  November  12th,  1875. 

Very  Rev.  Michael  Kavanagh,  D.D.,  was  appointed  President 
in  September,  1873,  and  he  made  several  additions  and  improve- 
ments, including  an  extension  of  the  southern  wing,  and  an 
extension  of  the  cloisters.  After  some  fifteen  years’  arduous 
service  Dr.  Kavanagh  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  New 


135 


Ross  in  June,  1888,  and  was  subsequent!}^  made  Dean  and  Vicar 
General  of  F erns. 

Very  Rev.  Luke  Doyle,  C.C.  of  Wexford  since  August,  1875, 
was  President  from  August,  1888,  to  1895,  when  he  was 
appointed  P.P.  of  Tagoat. 

Very  Rev.  Nicholas  T.  Sheridan,  B.C.L.,  a distinguished 
alumrius  of  Louvain,  occupied  the  presidential  chair  from  1895 
to  1903,  and  effected  many  improvements.  In  December,  1903, 
he  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Ramsgrange. 

Very  Rev.  William  Codd,  who  read  a brilliant  course  in  the 
Irish  College,  Rome,  and  who  had  been  Vice-President  for  a 
number  of  years,  was  President  from  December,  1903,  to  1912, 
when  he  was  given  the  pastorate  of  Pdackwater. 

V'ery  Rev.  William  Hanton,  who  had  laboured  in  South 
Africa,  and  was  subsequently  C.C.  of  Enniscorth}^  Cathedral,  was 
appointed  President  in  March,  1912.  Within  three  years  he  has 
worked  wonders,  and  though  he  secured  the  splendid  mansion 
adjoining  the  college  as  an  annexe,  this  is  already  crowded  with 
students,  such  that  further  accommodation  must  soon  be  provided 
for  the  increasing  numbers. 

III. — Presentation  Convent. 

Through  the  munificence  of  Mr.  Carroll  of  Wexford  (who 
bequeathed  Ci.Goo  for  that  purpose)  Bishop  Ryan  was  enabled  to 
secure  a foundation  for  the  Presentation  Nuns  in  the  town  of 
Wexford,  in  1818.  The  first  Superioress  was  Mother  de  Sales 
Devereux,  a Wexford  lady  who  had  made  her  profession  in  the 
Presentation  Convent,  Kilkenny.  Her  colleague  in  the  new 
foundation  was  Sister  Mary  Baptist  Frayne,  and,  on  October  2nd, 
1818,  Mass  was  celebrated  for  the  first  time  in  the  new  house  at 
Wexford  by  Father  Corrin.  Many  difficulties  were  encountered 
for  a time,  but  things  soon  began  to  brighten,  and  the  primary 
schools  attracted  crowds  of  children  and  adults  to  receive 
instruction — religious  as  well  as  secular.  After  eight  years 
Mother  de  Sales  was  asked  to  found  a house  of  the  Order  in 
Enniscorthy  (where  Bishop  Keating  made  over  his  own  residence 
for  the  new  foundation),  and  she  accordingly  left  Wexford  in 
1827. 


136 


After  the  departure  of  Mother  de  Sales,  a new  Superioress  was 
elected  in  the  person  of  Mother  M.  Baptist  F rayne,  whose  rule  was 
marked  by  the  improvement  of  the  schools  and  by  the  erection 
of  a beautiful  chapel.  Tom  Moore,  in  his  Diary  under  date  of 
August  26th,  1835,  describes  his  visit  to  the  convent,  when  Mother 
Baptist  induced  him  to  play  on  the  organ  and  sing  some  of  his 
sacred  lyrics.  Mother  Baptist  died  on  January  31st.  1852. 

Later  on.  Mother  Augustine  Kenny  built  new  schools  (1862) 
and  a cloister  leading  to  them  from  the  convent.  She  also  formed 
an  industrial  class  for  embroidery  and  lace-making.  Since  then 
many  additions  have  been  made,  the  latest  being  new  infant 
schools,  where  the  kindergarten  system  is  taught.  Over  seven 
hundred  children  are  at  present  on  the  rolls,  and  the  Community 
numbers  thirty-one.  The  present  Superioress  is  Mother  Mary 
Teresa  Pettit. 


IV.— -Mercy  Convent. 

The  Convent  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  in  Wexford  dates  from 
1840,  when  it  was  founded,  with  Mother  Marj^  Teresa  Kelly  as 
first  Superioress.  Originally  the  Nuns  had  merely  the  charge  of 
the  Orphanage  (founded  by  the  Redmond  and  Talbot  families), 
but  in  process  of  time  they  enlarged  their  scope,  and  built 
excellent  schools,  under  the  National  Board.  From  Wexford 
were  founded  the  iMercy  Convents  of  Cappoquin  (1850),  Ne\v 
Ross  (1853),  London  (1858),  Carrick-on-Suir  (1874),  and  Rosslare 
(191 1).  An  auxiliary  school  in  Upper  George’s  Street  was  erected 
for  them  by  Richard  Devereux,  the  Wexford  philanthropist 
(in  1863),  who  also  built  and  endowed  the  House  of  Mercy  for  the 
training  of  servants,  in  1866.  The  Sisters  have  National  Schools 
at  George's  Street  and  Summerhill. 

V. — Christian  Brothers. 

Through  the  munificence  of  Mr.  Richard  Devereux,  the 
Christian  Brothers  were  given  a foundation  in  Wexford  in  1847, 
and  built  a second  school  in  1851.  The  new  schools  were  opened  on 
the  ist  of  October,  1853.  During  the  past  sixty  j'ears  the  Brothers 
have  done  incalculable  good  for  primary  and  secondary  education 


137 


in  Wexford.  The  late  Brother  Norris  laboured  zealously  in  the 
seventies.  In  1875  the  Brothers  removed  to  the  fine  new  schools 
opposite  the  church  of  the  Assumption.  The  old  schools  in  the 
Faythe  were  then  taken  over  by  the  Sisters  of  St.  John  of  God 
and  opened  as  an  infant  school. 

VI.— Loretto  Convent. 

In  1866,  Mother  Aloysia  Sweetman,  of  Gorey,  sent  a 
foundation  to  Wexford,  and  the  Nuns  obtained  a fine  residence 
at  Richmond  House,  Spawell  Road,  which  was  dedicated  to 
Our  Lady  of  Angels.  For  almost  half  a century  this  convent 
has  supplied  a want  for  a good  secondary  and  boarding  school  in 
Wexford.  In  recent  years  the  success  of  the  pupils  at  the 
Intermediate  and  other  examinations  places  it  in  the  front  rank 
of  educational  establishments  for  young  ladies. 

VII. — Convent  of  the  Perpetual  Adoration. 

The  convent  of  Reparation  obtained  a foundation  at 
Rockfield,  Spawell  Road,  in  1870,  and  the  Nuns  in  addition  to 
Perpetual  Adoration,  supply  vestments,  altar  linen,  altar 
breads,  etc. 

VIII. — Convent  of  St.  John  of  God. 

The  Infirmarian  Sisters  of  St.  John  of  God  obtained  a 
foundation  in  Wexford  in  1871,  and  have  laboured  for  forty- four 
years.  They  secured  the  old  schools  of  the  Christian  Brothers  in 
the  Faythe  for  the  purpose  of  an  infant  school  in  1875.  The 
Nuns  still  continue  their  ministrations  to  all  that  stand  in  need 
of  their  services.  Mother  Stanislaus,  who  had  been  Superioress 
since  1895,  died  rather  suddenly  (at  Gorey)  on  June  21st,  1915. 


In  1645  the  Capuchin  Friars  opened  a house  at  Wexford, 
under  Father  Nicholas  Archbold,  who  came  to  Ireland  in  1625, 
and  who  died  of  the  plague  in  1650.  After  his  death  no  further 
trace  of  the  Capuchins  has  so  far  been  discovered. 

There  was  also  a convent  of  Poor  Clares  in  Wexford  from 
1646  to  1649 — but  the  Nuns  were  dispersed  during  the  Crom- 
wellian rule.  Mother  Mary  Augustine  was  Abbess  during  these 
three  years. 

138 


ANTIQUITIES. 

Loch  Garman,  or  Carman,  was  the  old  name  of  the  present 
town  of  Wexford.  It  is  unfortunate  that  the  site  of  the  famous 
Fair  of  Carman  has  wrongly  been  identified  with  Wexford, 
whereas  the  locale  was  the  Curragh  of  Kildare.  This  identification 
of  Carman  with  Wexford  was  due  to  O'Donovan  and  O’Curry, 
but  Mr.  W.  M.  Hennessy  rightly  pointed  out  that  the  famous  Fair 
really  took  place  at  the  Curragh  of  Kildare.  Ptolemy’s  Menapia 
and  the  Scandinavian  Weysfiord  show  the  successive  stages  in 
the  nomenclature  of  Wexford.  Mr.  Goddard  Orpen  has  satisfac- 
torily pointed  out  that  Knockaulin,  overlooking  the  Curragh, 
was  the  fortified  palace  of  the  King  of  Leinster.  In  1033  was 
celebrated  the  last  F air  of  Carman,  Co.  Kildare.  At  the  same  time 
it  is  well  to  point  out  that  there  was  also  a Fair  at  Wexford,  at 

Loch  Garman  of  the  bright  poets  ; 

Branching  broad  haven  of  the  ships, 

Assembly  plain  of  the  light  boats. 

On  May  Day,  1169,  FitzStephen  landed  at  Bannow  Island, 
and  on  the  following  day  Maurice  Prendergast  joined  the  Anglo- 
Normans  Then  came  the  seige  of  Carrick-on-Slaney.  The  lands 
around  this  district  passed  to  Maurice  Prendergast,  but  most  of 
them  were  soon  afterwards  acquired  by  F^obert  FitzGodibert 
Roche,  and  the  remainder  (including  Kilmacoe,  Curracloe,  and 
the  Raven)  went  to  the  Sinnotts.  In  1317  Aymer  de  Valence 
held  the  borough  of  Wexford  as  well  as  the  advowson  of  the 
church  of  St.  Nicholas,  and  on  July  25th,  1317,  he  granted  a 
Charter  to  Wexford. 

I have  already  alluded  to  the  cinerary  urn  found  near  the 
Mountain  of  Forth. 

The  old  walls  of  Wexford  were  in  evidence  as  late  as  the 
middle  of  the  last  century.  There  were  five  gates,  namely.  West 
Gate  (Cow  Gate) ; John’s  Gate ; St.  Peter’s  Gate  ; Bride  Street 
Gate  : and  Castle  Gate. 

The  old  churches  of  Wexford  have  been  previously  described. 
In  the  17th  and  i8th  centuries  Wexford  Spa  Well  was  in  much 
repute,  and  was  recommended  by  Archbishop  King,  Dean  Swift, 
and  Sir  Patrick  Dun.  The  Faythe  was  the  scene  of  some  great 
hurling  matches  between  the  years  1750  and  1785. 

In  1834  William  Whitty  was  appointed  first  Catholic  Mayor 
of  Wexford.  FJe  died  on  March  i6th,  1836. 


139 


Parish  of  Mayglass 


The  present  parish  of  Mayglass  represents  the  older  parishes  of 
Ballymore,  Mayglass,  Killinick,  and  Ishartmon.  Ballymore, 
however,  was  merely  a chapelry.  In  1334  Bishop  Adam  of 
Northampton  appropriated  the  church  of  St.  Fintan’s,  Mayglass, 
to  the  Deanery  of  Ferns — Nicholas  Maunsel  then  being  Dean, 
whose  successors  were  Walter  VVhitty  (1345-1366)  and  William  St. 
John  (1366-1396.)  In  1398  Thomas  Bridsale  was  Vicar  of  Mayglass, 
and  still  held  that  position  in  1420.  In  T437  Patrick  Mac  Aylward 
was  appointed  Dean  of  Ferns,  though  the  position  was  contested 
by  Thomas  Pettit.  In  1461  Dermot  O’Kirwan  was  appointed 
Dean  by  the  Pope  (vice  Pettit  deceased),  whose  successors  were 
William  Doyle  (1475-1479),  Henry  Roche  (1479- 1510),  Alexander 
Keating  (1534-1536)  and  Thomas  Hay  (1536-1558).  Dean  Hay  was 
the  last  Dean  of  Ferns,  and  Rector  of  Mayglass  under  the  old 
regime,  and  Patrick  Stafford  (1540-1571)  was  the  last  Vicar  of  the 
i6th  centurj^^.  In  1559  John  Devereux  was  the  first  Protestant 
Dean,  who  held  the  Deanery  in  commendam  with  the  Bishopric 
of  Ferns  till  1578. 

Bishop  Caulfield,  in  1801,  returned  the  parish  as  worth  £50 
annually,  with  a curate. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  William  Hanton  laboured  in  this  district  at  the  close  of 
the  i6th  century.  In  1612  the  Protestant  Bishop  Ram  mentions 
in  his  Report  that  William  Hanton  was  then  officiating  as  priest 
in  that  parish,  residing  in  a house  built  upon  the  land  of  Mr. 
Wadding  in  Pullingtown. 

Rev  John  Turner  was  Parish  Priest  of  Mayglass  from  1642 
to  1650.  According  to  the  contemporary  testimony  of  Father 
Francis  Stafford,  O.F.M.  ; — “ The  Rev.  John  Turner,  Parish 


140 


Priest  of  Ma5'glass,  declared  that  on  the  day  wlien  the  religious 
and  others  were  slain  at  Wexford  (October  iith,  1649),  he  saw  a 
beautiful  woman  ascending  towards  the  sky.  This  he  saw  when 
he  was  five  miles  from  Wexford,  before  he  heard  anything  about 
its  capture.” 

Very  Rev.  Daniel  O’Brien,  Dean  of  Ferns,  was  P.P.  from 
1650  till  his  glorious  martyrdom  on  Holy  Saturday  (April  24th) 
1655.  He  suffered  death  at  Wexford,  at  the  hands  of  the 
Cromwellians,  and  his  two  companion-martyrs  were  Rev.  Luke 
Bergin,  O.Cist.,  and  Rev.  James  Murphy,  a secular  priest. 

Rev.  Jasper  Devereux  was  P.P.  of  Tomhaggard  and  May  glass 
from  1700  to  1710,  but  Rev.  William  Lambert  (ordained  in  1695) 
registered  himself  as  P.P.  of  Kilmore,  Kilturk,  and  Ballymore,  in 
1704.  Father  Devereux,  who  lived  at  Tacumshane,  died  on 
August  31st,  1710.  Father  Lambert  died  in  1724. 

Very  Rev.  Nicholas  (Canon)  Sweetman,  S.T.D.,  was  appointed 
Parish  Priest  of  St.  Fintan’s,  Mayglass,  in  1725,  and  was  made 
Treasurer  of  Ferns  on  August  26th,  1732.  He  was  appointed 
Vicar-General  on  July  21st,  1736,  and  was  transferred  to  the 
parish  of  Wexford.  (See  Wexford). 

Rev.  Richard  Devereux  was  P.P.  from  1736  to  1779.  Bishop 
Sweetman  made  a Visitation  of  the  parish  on  June  i8th,  1753. 
Father  Devereux’s  chalice,  dated  1757,  is  now  in  Riverchapel. 

Very  Rev.  Peter  (Canon)  Sinnott  was  appointed  P.P.  of 
“ Ballymore  and  Mayglass  ” in  1780,  and  laboured  for  fifteen 
years.  On  December  17th,  1789,  Rev.  Laurence  Comerford  was 
sent  as  C.C.  of  Ballymore  and  continued  as  such  till  1802,  when 
he  was  made  P.P.  of  Monageer.  Canon  Sinnott  died  in  1795,  and 
was  buried  in  Mayglass  cemetery,  where  a monument  was  erected 
to  his  memory,  on  which  is  the  brief  epitaph  : — “ The  Rev.  Peter 
Sinnott,  P.P.,  of  Ballemore.” 

Rev.  Aedan  Ennis,  C.C.  of  Bannow  since  December,  1789, 
was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Mayglass  on  September  26th, 
1795.  His  church  of  Mayglass  was  burned  by  the  soldiers  who 
were  retreating  from  Wexford  to  Duncannon  on  May  30th,  1798. 
Father  Ennis  had  a pastorate  of  forty-five  years  and  died  on 
April  i8th,  1840,  aged  84.  Rev.  John  Carroll  was  C.C.  from  1819 
to  1824,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  James  Kavanagh. 


Rev.  James  Kavanagh,  C.C.  of  the  parish  since  1824,  was 
appointed  P.P.  in  May,  1840.  He  built  the  present  church  of 
Mayglass,  and  the  National  Schools.  Father  Kavanagh  (whose 
nephew  was  the  late  Dean  Kavanagh  of  Ferns)  lived  at  Ballymore, 
and  died  on  April  19th,  1867. 

Rev.  Thomas  Clancy,  C.C.  of  Cushinstown  since  1840,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  May  21st,  1867,  and  died  on  July  13th,  1879. 

Very  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon)  Cahill,  C.C.  of  Kilmore  since 
1873,  was  appointed  as  P.P.  of  Mayglass  on  August  ist,  1879,  and 
effected  many  improvements.  Canon  Cahill  died  on  April 
2ist,  1897. 

Rev.  John  Corish,  C.C.  of  Newtownbarry  since  1876,  was 
P.P.  from  May,  8th,  1897,  till  his  death  on  July  31st,  1904.  He 
died  while  celebrating  Mass. 

Rev.  Andrew  Crowe,  C.C.  of  Ballymore  since  1886,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  August  i6th,  1904,  and  is  the  present  pastor. 
He  resides,  like  his  predecessors,  at  Ballymore. 

ANTIQUITIES. 

The  ruined  church  of  Mayglass  (dedicated  to  St.  Fintan) 
stands  on  an  eminence  in  the  centre  of  the  old  cemeter}^  and  is 
well  worthy  the  attention  of  the  antiquar}^  It  dates  from  the 
13th  centur}',  and  has  an  exquisitely  sculptured  doorway  as  well 
as  a fine  eastern  window.  Unfortunately  the  choir  arch  fell  in 
1833.  Though  roofless,  this  ruin  is  still  in  wonderful  preservation. 
There  are  a number  of  interesting  tombs  in  the  cemetery,  which 
is  still  used  for  interments. 

The  Protestant  church  of  the  district  is  near  Killinick.  Both 
Killinick  and  Ishartmon  (the  Desert  of  St.  Munnu)  were  old 
Celtic  foundations.  Near  Killinick  is  Ballyrane  Castle,  built  by 
the  Wadding  family. 

The  old  church  of  Ballymore  w'as  dedicated  to  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  but  is  now  in  ruins.  Its  golden  chalice  was  stolen  by  the 
Cromwellians. 


142 


Parish  of  Bannow 


Properly  speaking,  the  title  of  this  parish  should  be  Carrig-in- 
Bannow,  but,  for  brevity  sake,  Bannow  has  been  the  designation 
for  several  centuries.  No  need  to  dwell  on  the  romance  that 
attaches  to  the  “ buried  city  of  Bannow,”  “ the  Irish 
Herculaneum,”  etc.,  but  it  is  certain  that  before  the  sad  period  of 
the  “ Reformation  ” Bannow  was  a flourishing  place.  The  name 
is  an  Anglicised  corruption  of  Banhh  or  Bonniv  ; and  the  bay  of 
Bannow  was  called  in  Irish  Cuan  an  banbh,  that  is,  the  haven  of 
the  banbh  or  sucking  pig.  O'Donovan  threw  out  a conjecture 
that  probably  the  name  was  derived  from  Banbh,  the  brother  of 
Slaine,  who  gave  his  name  to  the  river  Slaney,  but  the  above 
explanation  is  more  favoured  by  Iri.sh  scholars.  At  Bannow 
landed  Robert  FitzStephen  and  his  advance  forces  of 
adventurers  on  May  ist,  1 179,  and  the  town  became  of  considerable 
importance  in  the  13th  century.  As  late  as  the  17th  century  the 
Quit-rent  rolls  give  the  names  of  ten  streets  in  the  town  of 
Bannow,  including  High  Street,  St.  George  Street,  St.  Toolock 
Street,  St.  Mary  Street,  etc.  And,  as  a matter  of  fact,  the  village 
returned  two  members  to  the  Irish  Parliament  till  1800. 

The  church  of  Bannow  was  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  and  was 
originally  impropriated  to  the  monks  of  Canterbury,  but,  in 
1245,  was  acquired  by  Tintern  Abbey.  There  were  older  Celtic 
foundations  at  Shimoge,  St.  Kieran’s,  Bannow  Island,  Cullens- 
town.  Little  Grange  (St.  Aedan),  Kiltra,  and  Brandane. 
Shimoge,  or  St.  Imoge,  is  a corruption  of  Suidhe  Moedhoc,  the 
seat  of  St.  Mogue  (St.  Aedan),  and  St.  Mogue’s  Well  is  to  be  seen 
near  Coolhull  Castle.  St.  Kieran's  was  called  after  the  patron 
saint  of  Ossory,  while  Brandane  is  a survival  of  St.  Brendan  the 
Navigator,  whose  name  is  associated  with  Brendan  Hill,  at  St. 
Mullins,  and  Knockbrandan.  Kilkevan  (dedicated  to  St.  Kevin) 
was  a chapelry,  while  Ambrosetown  was  a “ free  chapel.” 


143 


Ballingly  was  an  important  parish  and  episcopal  manor  in  the 
14th  century.  Clonmines  was  also  an  important  parish  dedicated 
to  St.  Nicholas.  Ballylannon  was  dedicated  to  St.  John. 

In  1801  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  as  valued  at  £"83 
a year,  with  one  curate. 

The  parish  is  bounded  on  the  south  and  west  by  the  sea  ; on 
the  north  by  the  Rosegarland  river  ; and  on  the  north-east,  east 
and  south-east  by  the  parishes  of  Taghmon  and  Rathangan. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Patrick  Rossiter  laboured  in  this  district  from  1662  to 
1712,  full  fifty  years.  In  1704  he  registered  himself  as  P.P.  of 
Bannow,  Carrig,  Sheemoge,  Ambrosetown,  Ballingly,  Ballymitty, 
and  Kilcavan  ; residing  at  Ballinglin.  He  died  in  1712,  and  was 
buried  at  Duncormack.  It  is  well  to  note  that  Rev.  Charles 
Graham  registered  himself  as  P.P.  of  Ballylannon,  in  1704, 
residing  at  St.  John’s. 

Rev.  Stephen  Lambert  was  P.P.  of  Bannow  from  1712  till 
his  death  on  November  21st,  1751,  aged  80.  He  resided  at 
Lacken,  and  was  interred  at  Duncormack,  where  his  monument 
may  still  be  seen. 

Rev.  John  Fitzhenry,  a native  of  Adamstown,  was  P.P.  from 
1751  to  1782.  Bishop  Sweetman  made  a Visitation  of  the  parish 
on  June  26th,  1753,  and  describes  the  pastor  as  “ an  honest, 
indolent  man.”  Father  Fitzhenry’s  silver  chalice,  dated  1766, 
is  still  preserved  at  the  presbytery  in  Newbawn.  He  resided  at 
Ball5'gow,  and  died  on  Januarj^  23rd,  1782,  and  was  interred 
at  Adamstown,  where  a fine  monument  was  erected  to  his 
memory. 

Very  Rev.  Michael  (Canon)  Fitzhenry,  a nephew  of  Bishop 
Sweetman  and  of  the  preceding  pastor,  was  made  Canon  on 
March,  20th,  1773,  and  was  appointed  P.P.  in  1782,  but  fell  into 
ill  health  in  the  autumn  of  1789.  Rev.  Laurence  Comerford  was 
therefore  sent  as  his  assistant  on  November  gth,  1789.  However, 
Canon  Fitzhenry  did  not  long  survive,  and  he  passed  peacefully 
away  on  December  4th,  at  the  early  age  of  49,  and  was  interred 
in  the  grave  of  his  uncle  at  Adamstown.  His  epitaph  is  still 
decipherable,  and  he  is  described  as  ‘‘  universally  regretted.”  and 
a “ worthy  successor  ” to  his  uncle. 


144 


Rev.  Andrew  Devereux,  C.C.  of  the  Hook,  was  appointed 
P.P.  on  December  17th,  1789.  In  the  Episcopal  Register  his 
appointment  is  given  as  “ Pastor  Ecclesiae  SAI.V.  de  Bannow 
cum  suis  annexis,  Scil.,  parochiis  de  Carrig,  Ambrosetown, 
Ballymitt}’,  Shimogue,  and  Ballingh’.”  On  the  same  day  Rev. 
Laurence  Comerford,  C.C.,  was  appointed  curate  of  Ballymore. 
Father  Devereux  was  a native  of  Danescastle,  and  resided  at 
Lacken.  He  had  a short  pastorate,  and  died  on  July  27th,  1793, 
aged  43. 

Rev.  Edward  Murphy,  a native  of  New  Ross,  was  appointed 
P.P.  on  August  6th,  1793,  and  had  a pastorate  of  thirty-seven 
years.  Father  Murphy  experienced  all  the  troubles  incidental  to 
the  ’98  period,  and  his  portrait  has  been  vividl}'  penned  by  Mrs. 
S.  C.  Hall.  He  built  a thatched  chapel  at  Ballymitty  in  1806, 
replacing  the  former  chapel  of  Tullicanna.  His  curate.  Rev. 
John  Sutton,  died  on  June  i6th,  1821,  and  was  replaced  by  Rev. 
James  Harpur.  Father  Murphy  died  on  July  23rd,  1S30,  aged  80. 

Very  Rev.  Peter  (Canon)  Corish,  C.C.  of  Gorey  since  1822, 
was  promoted  P.P.  in  August,  1830,  and  had  a pastorate  of 
forty-three  years.  His  curate.  Rev.  Martin  Moran  (1834-1846) 
commenced  the  erection  of  a new  church  at  Carrick  in  1836, 
towards  the  erection  of  which  Mr.  Thomas  Boyse  of  Bannow 
generously  contributed.  It  was  dedicated  to  the  Immaculate 
Conception  and  St.  Joseph,  on  April  6th,  1856,  by  Bishop 
Murphy,  the  preacher  being  Rev.  Thomas  Burke,  O.P.  Canon 
Corish  built  a church  at  Ballymitty,  and  effected  much  good 
during  his  long  pastorate.  He  died  on  June  i6th,  1873,  aged  88, 
and  was  buried  in  Carrick. 

Venerable  Archdeacon  P.  C.  Sheridan,  C.C.  of  Bannow  from 
1854  to  1S57,  and  President  of  St.  Peter’s  College,  Wexford,  from 
1858  to  1873,  was  Pastor  of  Bannow  from  August,  1873,  fill  his 
death  on  June  29th,  1899. 

Rev.  Murtagh  Sullivan.  P.P.  of  Clongeen  since  1888,  was 
transferred  to  Bannow  on  July  29th,  1899,  and  is  the  present 
Pastor. 


PRIORY  OF  CLONMINES  (GRANTSTOWN). 

The  Priory  of  Clonmines  for  Hermits  of  St.  Augustine  was 
founded  by  Art  MacMurrogh  in  1385.  Some  authorities  assert 


145 


L 


that  this  Friary  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Dominicans,  but 
there  is  no  evidence  for  such  a statement.  The  ruined  church 
which  has  been  incorrectly  claimed  as  that  of  the  Dominicans  is 
in  reality  the  parish  church  of  St.  Nicholas  of  Clonmines.  At  the 
dissolution  of  the  monasteries  in  1540  Nicholas  Wadding  was  the 
last  Prior. 

In  1726  Rev.  Patrick  Newport  re-established  the  Friary  ; and, 
in  1737,  his  brother,  Rev.  Nicholas  Newport,  took  a small  farm 
in  the  parish  of  Kilkevan  opposite  Clonmines,  about  two  and 
a-half  miles  distant  from  the  old  convent.  On  this  farm  was 
erected  a thatched  house  which  served  as  a Priory  until  1811. 
Father  Newport  also  built  a thatched  chapel  (which  served  as  a 
chapel  of  ease  till  1830)  and  he  died  on  23rd  August,  1791,  aged 
86,  and  was  buried  at  Kilkevan.  His  successor  was  Rev.  John 
Gregory  Butler  (1782-1803),  after  whom  came  Rev.  William  Doyle 
(1803-1807).  Father  Doyle  had  the  privilege  of  receiving  the 
illustrious  James  Doyle  (J.K.L.)  into  the  Augustinian  Order  in 
the  thatched  chapel  of  Grantstown  in  1805.  He  was  re-elected 
Prior  in  1807  and  held  office  till  iSii.  His  death  occurred  on 
July  3rd,  1814. 

Rev.  William  Doyle  (1811-1827)  erected  the  present  convent 
in  1811  and  died  in  1842.  He  was  the  first  to  be  interred  at 
Grantstown.  Rev.  Richard  Doyle  (1827-1843)  built  the  present 
little  church,  which  was  blessed  in  1832  by  Bishop  O’Connor  of 
Saldes. 

The  following  is  the  succession  of  Priors  of  Clonmines  at 
Grantstown  since  the  year  1843  ; — 

1S43-1849.  Rev.  Francis  Doyle. 

1849-1853.  Rev.  Richard  Doyle. 

1853-1865.  Rev.  John  Ennis. 

1865-1872.  Rev.  Patrick  Crane. 

1872-1879.  Rev.  P.  O’Connor. 

1879- 1880.  Rev.  John  Kehoe. 

1880- 1884.  Rev.  Patrick  Crane. 

1884-1889.  Rev.  John  Kehoe. 

1889-1903.  Rev.  John  Crane. 

1903-1915.  Rev.  John  Kehoe. 

(Father  Kehoe  died  on  November  21st,  1915). 


146 


ANTIQUITIES. 

The  old  church  of  St.  Mary’s,  Bannow,  is  situated  on  a point 
overlooking  Bannow  Bay,  and  it  continued  in  fair  preservation 
till  the  close  of  the  last  century,  but  the  drifting  sands  and  sea 
erosion  will  soon  play  havoc  with  the  building.  The  channel 
between  Bannow  Island  and  the  site  of  the  town  of  Bannow  was 
navigable  as  late  as  1660.  From  what  remains  of  the  church  it 
would  seem  to  have  been  built  in  1260  or  1270,  and  it  had  a 
semi-circular  arch  of  Caen  stone,  the  windows  being  small  and 
trefoil-headed,  save  the  western  window,  which  was  large  and 
finely  decorated.  The  beautiful  pre-Reformation  holy  rvater  font 
was  acquired  for  the  Catholic  church  of  Rathangan  in  the  year 
1750,  but  was  brought  back  to  Bannow,  at  the  request  of  Mr. 
Carr,  B.L.,  of  Graigue  House,  the  uncle  of  Mrs.  S.  C.  Hall.  In  the 
year  1830  it  was  removed  to  the  Catholic  church  of  Danescastle, 
and  is  now  in  the  new  church  at  Carrick.  The  font  stands  about 
four  feet  from  the  ground  floor,  and  is  of  the  13th  century. 
Near  the  porch  of  the  old  church  is  a monument  to  Walter  F rench 
of  Grange,  who  died  in  1701  at  the  age  of  140 ! In  the  ruined 
aisle  a fine  sepulchral  slab  exhibiting  beneath  two  trefoil- 
headed niches  the  heads  of  a Knight  and  his  lady  in  the  costume 
of  the  14th  century  has  been  utilised  to  commemorate  John 
Golfer  and  Anne  Siggins,  circa  1485.  T wo  other  stone  monuments 
have  been  destro5"ed  owing  to  modern  vandalism.  There  are  no 
traces  of  the  churches  of  St.  Kieran,  St.  Brendan,  and  St.  Mogue, 
but  Our  Lady’s  Well  and  St.  Imogue's  Well  still  survive.  The 
old  churchyard  of  Sheemogue  is  still  used.  The  famous 
“ long  stone  ” of  Bannow  is  simply  a Gallan,  having  cupmarks  : 
it  is  also  a holed  stone.  There  is  a bullan  or  “ bell-stone  of  St. 
Mannan,”  formerly  belonging  to  the  church  of  Kilmannon,  now 
in  Carrick  (Bannowl  church. 

Some  remains  survive  of  the  Friary  church  of  Clonmines, 
including  the  tower,  a set  of  highly-ornamented  arches,  and  a 
fine  granite  western  window.  The  church  was  castellated,  and 
has  often  been  mistaken  for  a ruined  castle.  Near  it  are  the 
ruins  of  the  old  parish  church  of  St.  Nicholas.  There  were 
formerly  five  castles  at  Clonmines  : these  five,  together  with  the 
two  ruinous  churches,  gave  rise  to  the  legend  of  “ the  seven 
castles  of  Clonmines.” 


147 


The  old  church  of  Bally lannon  (St.  John’s)  at  the  opposite 
side  of  St.  Kieran’s  Pill,  was  converted  into  a mausoleum  for  the 
family  of  Leigh  of  Rosegarland.  St.  John’s  Well  is  about  a 
mile  from  the  old  church. 

The  place-name  Danescastle  is  popularly  associated  with 
the  Danes,  but  it  is  really  a corruption  of  Denn’s  castle,  erected 
by  the  Denn  family  in  the  14th  centur^^  Similarly  the  name 
Clonmines  is  popularly  said  to  be  from  the  mines  formerly 
worked  there,  but  the  true  etj'mology  is  the  Irish  Cluain  Maighen, 
which  has  got  Anglicised  as  Clonmines,  just  as  in  the  case  of 
Carrickmines  (Dublin).  However,  silver  mines  were  worked 
there  from  1545  to  1565,  when  they  proved  unremunerative.  In 
1840  the  mines  of  Barr^’stown  were  again  opened,  and  were 
worked  successfully  till  1847,  when  the  famine  contributed 
to  their  discontinuance.  There  were  castles  at  Bannow  (now 
disappeared),  Cullenstown,  Danescastle,  and  Coolhull. 


148 


Parish  of  Blackwater. 


The  parish  of  Blackwater  w-as  formed  in  the  second  quarter 
of  the  iSth  century,  and  represents  the  old  parishes  of  Killily, 
Ballyvaloo,  with  small  portions  of  INIeelnagh,  Castle  Ellis, 
Killesk,  and  Ballyvaldon.  Killily,  or  Killila,  was  dedicated  to 
St.  Brigid.  O’Donovan  admits  this  dedication,  but  he  was  of 
opinion  that  the  name  implied  the  church  of  St.  Fhaoile  of 
whom  nothing  is  known.  More  recent  scholars  incline  to  the 
view  that  the  old  Irish  name  really  means  “ the  church  of  the 
veiled  one,”  i.e.,  St.  Brigid,  the  first  Irish  nun.  The  “pattern” 
day  is  still  the  feast  of  St.  Brigid,  February  ist.  Killily  was 
appropriated  .to  Selskar  Priory  in  the  13th  century,  and  so 
continued  till  1540.  Killesk  (the  church  on  the  water)  and 
Ballyvaldon  were  also  appropriated  to  the  Priory  of  Selskar, 
while  Ballyvaloo  belonged  to  the  Leper  Hospital,  Wexford. 
The  last  link  with  the  old  regime  was  Rev.  Robert  Cheevers, 
who  was  Rector  of  the  district  under  Queen  Mary,  and  who 
disappeared  after  1571. 

Bishop  Caulfield,  in  1801,  returned  the  parish  as  worth 
£\S  los.  a year  with  no  curate.  The  parochial  Registers  go  back 
to  1815. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Roche  served  this  parish  in  1688,  and  he 
registered  himself,  in  1704,  as  P.P.  of  Castle  Ellis,  Killily, 
Ballyvaldon,  Killesk,  St.  Nicholas,  Screen,  Ardcavan,  and 
Ardcolm.  He  resided  at  Ballynegore,  parish  of  Killily.  I can 
find  no  trace  of  him  after  the  year  1711 — and  there  is  a lacuna 
from  1712  to  1732. 

Very  Rev.  Nicholas  Synnott  was  P.P.  from  1732  to  1775.  He 
appears  as  a Canon  of  Ferns  in  1739,  and  he  was  Vicar  General 


149 


in  1745.  Bishop  Sweetman,  in  1751,  refers  to  Canon  Synnott, 
who  resided  at  Castle  Ellis  ; and  he  made  a visitation  of  the 
parish  on  May  6th,  1753,  when  “ all  things  were  well.” 

Very  Rev.  David  (Canon)  Cullen  was  P.P.  from  1775  to 
April,  1803.  On  February  nth,  1796,  he  was  given  a curate, 
Rev.  Thomas  Dixon.  The  chapel  of  Ballynamonabeg  was  burned 
on  January  18th,  1799. 

Rev.  David  Dempsey  was  appointed  P.P.  of  “ Killily  cum  suis 
annexis,”  in  1803,  and  laboured  for  thirty-nine  years.  His  curate,  in 
1818,  was  Rev.  Nicholas  Furlong,  who,  on  April  3rd,  1819,  was 
sent  to  Camolin,  and  was  replaced,  in  1821,  by  Rev.  David 
Hore.  Father  Dempsey  built  the  present  church  of  Blackwater, 
in  1831,  with  the  able  assistance  of  Rev.  David  Hore  and  Rev. 
Patrick  Dempsey.  He  died  on  June  7th,  1842,  aged  80. 

Rev.  David  Hore,  C.C.  of  the  parish  from  1821  to  1822,  and 
again  from  1830  to  1842,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  June  7th,  1842, 
but  survived  less  than  four  years.  He  ornamented  the  church, 
and  died  on  February  9th,  1846,  aged  49. 

Rev.  Martin  Moran,  C.C.  of  Bannow  since  1834,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  February  14th,  1846,  and  laboured  for  twenty- 
eight  years.  He  built  the  present  schoolhouse  in  i860,  and 
improved  the  church  both  externally  and  internally,  in  1862. 
His  death  occurred  in  October,  1874. 

Rev.  Thomas  Walsh,  C.C.  of  Lady’s  Island  since  1866,  was 
appointed  P.P.  in  November,  1874.  He  resigned  the  parish  in 
January,  1S85,  and  joined  the  Society  of  Pious  Missions  at  Rome. 

Rev.  Martin  Dunne,  C.C.  of  Adamstown  since  1878,  was 
made  P.P.  on  February  ist,  1885.  He  was  a great  scholar,  being 
specially  versed  in  Irish  ecclesiastical  history.  After  a pastorate 
of  twelve  years  he  died  on  June  21st,  1897. 

Very  Rev.  Edward  (Canon)  Aylward,  C.C.  of  Wexford  since 
May,  1875,  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  on  July  i8th,  1897. 
He  took  over  the  present  parochial  house  and  improved  it 
considerably.  His  taste  was  also  manifested  in  beautifying  the 
church  and  grounds.  Canon  Aylward  died  on  February  24th,  1912. 

Rev.  William  Codd,  a Roman  student,  and  President  of  St. 
Peter’s  College,  Wexford,  since  December,  1893,  was  appointed 
P.P.  on  March  15th,  1912,  and  is  the  present  Pastor. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

There  is  no  trace  of  the  church  of  Killily  (in  the  townland  of 
Glebe),  but  the  ruins  of  Killesk,  Ballyvaldon,  and  Ballyvaloo 
will  well  repay  a visit.  Killily  churchyard  still  remains,  but  is 
practically  closed,  save  as  the  family  vault  of  the  Talbot  family 
— relatives  of  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury.  St.  Brigid’s  Well  is  near 
the  churchyard,  about  one  hundred  yards  north,  at  which  a 
“ pattern  ” was  held  till  i8io.  Not  far  off  is  the  burial  ground  of 
Tomduff,  \A  herein  is  the  family  vault  of  Sir  Walsingham  Cooke, 
erected  by  him  in  1641. 

The  well  of  St.  Brigid  at  Killesk  was  much  resorted  to  till 
1820.  No  burials  have  taken  place  in  the  churchyard  since  ’98. 

O’Donovan  says  that  Ballyvaldon  church  was  dedicated  to 
St.  Thomas,  and  that  the  “ pattern  ” was  observed  on  his  feast 
day  (December  21st)  till  1815,  but  the  old  people  of  the  district 
insist  that  the  patroness  was  St.  Margaret,  and  they  tell  of  the 
crowds  that  were  wont  to  assemble  at  the  ruins  on  that  feast  day 
(July  22nd).  The  graveyard  is  still  in  use.  St.  Thomas’s  Well  is  in 
the  townland  of  Garraun  about  a mile  N.W.  of  the  old  church. 

Adjoining  CastleTalbot  is  a remarkabletower  of  considerable 
antiquity.  There  is  a moat  in  the  townland  of  Inch.  Francis 
Talbot  “conformed”  in  1640,  to  save  his  property",  and  he  died 
in  1646. 

St.  Mary’s  Well  is  at  Slievnagrane,  and  pilgrimages  were 
formerly  made  to  it  on  the  feast  of  the  Assumption. 


Parish  of  Castkbridge. 


The  parish  of  Castlebridge  consists  of  the  older  parishes  of 
Ardcavan,  Ardcolin,  St.  Nicholas,  and  St.  Margaret’s  (the  Raven). 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Blackvv^ater  parish  ; on  the  south 
by  Wexford  Harbour  ; on  the  east  by  the  sea  ; and  on  the  west  by 
an  estuary  of  the  river  Slaney.  Ardcavan  was  dedicated  to  St. 
Coemhan,  while  Ardcolm  had  St.  Columcill  as  patron.  Holy 
wells  in  honour  of  both  these  Irish  saints  attest  the  old  Celtic 
foundations.  Begerin  was  of  older  date,  being  a foundation  of 
St.  Ibar  (Iberius)  in  the  5th  century.  Screen  (which  represents 
the  old  parish  of  St.  Nicholas)  was  dedicated  to  St.  Maelruain  of 
Tallaght,  the  name  signifying  a shrine,  an  Irish  loan  word  from 
scrinium.  St.  Margaret’s,  Curracloe,  also  known  as  the  Raven, 
dates  from  the  13th  century,  but  the  church  and  churchyard  have 
long  since  disappeared  owing  to  coast  erosion.  From  the  13th 
to  the  i6th  century  the  Roches  and  Sinnotts  were  Lords  of  the 
district,  but  the  Bishops  of  Ferns  had  a manor  at  Polregan.  In 
1402  Bishop  Barrett  gave  the  church  of  Ardcolm  to  Selskar  Priory, 
and  twenty  years  afterwards  the  Selskar  Canons  were  given 
Ardcavan  by  Bishop  Whitty.  Bishop  Caulfield,  in  1801,  returned 
the  parish  of  Castlebridge  as  valued  at  £^o  a year.  The 
parochial  Registers  begin  with  the  year  1832. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Roche  was  Pastor  of  the  district  from  1688  to 
1715.  (See  Blackwater).  After  his  death  there  is  a lacuna  of 
twenty-five  years. 

Rev.  James  Roche  laboured  in  the  district  in  1740,  but  no 
further  particulars  of  his  pastorate  have  been  handed  down. 

Rev.  John  Codd  was  P.P.  from  1750  to  1770.  Bishop 
Sweetman  made  a visitation  of  the  parish  on  June  21st,  1753, 
and  “ nothing  was  found  amiss.” 


152 


Very  Rev.  William  (Canon)  Brennan  was  P.P.  from  1770  till 
his  death  on  June  9th,  1793. 

Rev.  Michael  Ennis,  P.P.  of  Killann,  was  transferred  to 
Castlebridge,  on  June  20th,  1793.  A year  later  he  resigned  and 
went  to  America,  to  accompany  Fathers  Carr  and  Rossiter, 
O.S.A.,  who  were  sent  to  found  houses  of  the  Auguslinian  Order 
in  the  United  States. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Shalloe,  a native  of  Park,  near  New 
Ross,  was  appointed  P.P.  of  Castlebridge,  in  June,  1794,  but  was 
transferred  to  Adamstown,  on  April  13th,  1795. 

Rev.  Michael  Redmond  was  P.P.  from  .\pril,  1795,  till  his 
death  on  March  20th,  1799. 

Rev.  Edward  Newport,  C.C.  of  the  parish  since  1789,  was 
promoted  to  the  pastorate  in  April,  1799,  but  survived  less  than 
two  years.  He  died  on  February  28th,  1801,  aged  39  years,  and 
is  buried  in  Ardcavan  cemetery. 

Rev.  James  Browne  was  P.P.  from  March,  iSoi,  till  his 
death  on  October  28th,  1832,  aged  73.  His  humble  residence  is 
now  a shelter  for  cattle. 

Very  Rev.  George  (Canon)  Whitty,  Adm.  of  Enniscorthy 
since  1819,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  October  30th,  1832.  and 
laboured  for  nineteen  years.  He  was  given  a second  curate,  Rev. 
Myles  Doran,  in  1836.  Canon  Whitty  built  a church  at  Curracloe, 
in  1846,  and  also  erected  a fine  parochial  residence.  He  resigned 
on  February  14th,  1851,  and  went  to  live  with  his  brother  in 
Wexford. 

Very  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon)  Stafford  was  transferred  from 
Ballygarret  to  Castlebridge  on  April  26th,  1851,  and  laboured  for 
almost  twenty  years.  In  1856  he  built  the  parochial  church  of 
Castlebridge — a commodious  structure  with  a cut-stone  belfry 
— and  enlarged  the  church  of  Kilmacoe,  and  also  erected  a 
National  school.  He  died  on  September  25th,  1870,  aged  76, 
and  is  buried  in  Castlebridge. 

Rev.  William  O’Neill  (C.C.  of  Bannow  since  1857)  was 
appointed  P.P.  in  October,  1870,  and  laboured  zealously  till  his 
death  on  January  nth,  1878,  aged  57. 

Very  Rev.  Myles  (Canon)  Doran  (P.P.  of  Rathnure  from  1853 
to  1878)  came  back  to  Castlebridge  as  Pastor,  and  during  his 


153 


term  of  office  Como  Lodge  was  purchased  as  a curate’s  residence. 
Canon  Doran  died  November  12th,  1890,  aged  82. 

Very  Rev.  Sylvester  (Canon)  Cloney,  P.P.  of  Kilrush,  was 
transferred  to  Castlebridge  in  April,  1891.  He  built  a new 
church  in  Screen  (dedicated  to  St.  Cyprian),  and  erected  a school 
at  Curracloe.  He  was  Chancellor  of  the  Diocese  and  was  of  a 
gentle  character.  Canon  Cloney  died  on  April  2nd,  1908,  aged  68. 

Very  Rev.  James  (Canon)  Quigley,  a member  of  the  House 
of  Missions,  Enniscorthy,  was  appointed  Pastor  on  April  15th, 
1908,  and  he  has  effected  notable  improvements,  including  the 
erection  of  new  schools. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

Begerin  was  formerly  an  island  and  was  the  scene  of  the 
labours  of  St.  Ibar,  who  was  a contemporary  of  St.  Patrick,  and 
who  died  at  a great  age  on  April  23rd,  500.  His  school  flourished 
for  over  four  hundred  years.  In  819  the  Ostmen  ravaged  Begerin 
and  the  neighbouring  island  Dairinis  Caemhain  (long  since 
reclaimed),  the  name  of  which  survives  in  Ardcavan.  In  884 
died  Dermot,  Abbot  of  Begerin ; and  in  964  the  death  is 
chronicled  of  Crunmhael,  Abbot  of  Begerin,  and  Lector  of 
Tallaght.  The  Abbey  lasted  till  1160,  and  Giraldus  Cambrensis 
tells  of  the  rats  who,  for  having  destroyed  St.  Ibar’s  MSS.,  were 
cursed  by  that  saint.  In  1181  the  Roches  presented  the  island  to 
the  Benedictine  monks  of  St.  Nicholas,  Exeter,  who  held  it  till 
1400,  when  it  passed  to  the  Canons  of  Selskar  Priory  in  Wexford. 
The  English  Benedictines  in  the  early  years  of  the  13th  century 
built  a church,  the  ruins  of  which  still  remain.  Here  are  also 
three  ancient  stone  crosses,  and  a huge  boulder — about  seven  feet 
in  diameter— which  is  said  to  mark  the  last  resting  place  of  St. 
Ibar.  As  late  as  1680  a w'ooden  image  of  St.  Ibar  was  venerated 
at  Begerin. 

At  Ardcolm  and  Ardcavan  are  ruined  churches  and  holy 
wells,  respectively  dedicated  to  St.  Columcill  and  to  St. 
Coemhan.  At  the  former,  patterns  were  held  on  June  9th,  and 
at  the  latter  on  June  12th.  June  7th  is  the  feast  day  of  St. 
Coemhan  of  Ardcavan  according  to  some  authorities,  but  June 
I2th  is  the  true  date  (see  O’Hanlon).  Screen  cannot  now  boast 


154 


of  any  antiquarian  remains,  although  the  place-name 
commemorated  the  shrine  of  St.  Maelruain  of  Tallaght,  who 
died  in  792,  on  July  7th.  The  parish  represents  the  older  parish 
of  St.  Nicholas,  but  the  pattern-day  is  September  26th  the  jeast  of 
St.  Cyprian,  to  whom  the  present  church  is  dedicated.*  The  old 
church  was  in  the  towmland  of  Garryhubbock.  During  the  Penal 
days  the  “Mass-house”  of  Castlebridge  was  in  a marl-hole  about 
half  a mile  from  the  village— and  the  pit  is  still  known  as  the 
“chapel-hole.”  When  times  grew  brighter,  in  1760,  a little 
chapel  was  built  near  the  site  of  the  present  parochial  house,  on 
a spot  called  “ the  chapel  field.”  This  was  replaced  by  a larger 
structure  built  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  present  church. 


■^Bishop  Keating  has  a note  in  his  Register  that  Screen  was  dedicated  to 
SS.  Cosmas  and  Damian — whose  feast,  however,  is  celebrated  on  September 
27th.  St.  Eusebius  is  also  commemorated  on  September  26th. 


155 


Parish  of  Crossabeg 


The  present  parish  of  Crossabeg  is  modern,  and  represents  a 
union  of  the  older  parishes  of  Artramont,  Kilpatrick,  Tykillen, 
and  Kilmallock.  Artramont  (which  appears  in  old  documents 
as  Ardcroman,  Ardtermon,  and  Ardtroman)  was  a valuable 
Rectory  in  the  middle  ages,  and  the  parish  church  was  dedicated 
to  St.  Brigid.  Previousl3',  it  was  a Celtic  monastery  founded  b}'^ 
St.  Maelruain  of  Tallaght,  in  the  8th  centurj'.  Kilpatrick  w'as 
also  an  ancient  Irish  foundation,  but  in  the  13th  century  it  was 
appropriated  to  the  Priory  of  Glascarrig.  The  parish  church — 
dedicated  to  the  Apostle  of  Ireland — was  burned  by  Walter 
Roche,  in  1514,  but  was  soon  after  re-built.  In  1539  the  Prior  of 
Glascarrig  sold  the  tithes  of  Kilpatrick  to  Rev.  Robert 
MacCormac,  the  Vicar— said  tithes  being  then  valued  at  6s.  Sd.  a 
year.  Tykillen  (the  house  of  St.  Killian)  was  a Rectory  belonging 
to  the  Priorj-  of  Selskar  in  Wexford.  Kilmallock  was  dedicated 
to  St.  Sillan,  or  Mo  Siolog,  who  was  also  the  patron  of  Gorey 
(Kilmichaelog).  The  English  changed  the  dedication  to  St. 
Mary’s,  and  the  pattern  day  is  August  15th.  The  name  Tykillen 
appears  in  old  documents  as  Takillen  and  Stakilly.  The  whole 
district  of  Shelmalier  East  was  known  as  Fearann  na  gCenel,  but 
was  subsequently  (in  the  13th  century)  designated  Roche’s  and 
Sinnott’s  land,  the  river  Sow  dividing  the  estate.  As  late  as  1598 
Father  Turlogh  O’Byrne  laboured  in  this  district,  and,  in  1612, 
the  Protestant  Bishop  Ram  reports  “ Sir  Turlogh  ” as  frequenting 
the  house  of  Walter  Archer  of  Artramont.  In  the  civil  arrange- 
ment the  parish  of  Crossabeg  is  regarded  as  in  the  parish  of 
Artramont,  while  Ballymurn  is  regarded  as  in  Kilmallock.* 
The  present  Registers  were  begun  in  1837. 

*In  1801  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  of  “ Kilmollock  ” as  worth 
£■45  a year,  with  one  curate. 


156 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

From  1686  to  1710  Rev.  Nicholas  Doyle  was  Pastor  of  the 
vast  district  from  Templeshannon  to  Wexford,  over  twelve  miles. 
He  resided  at  Ballyroe  (Edermine),  and  registered  himself  in  1704. 

Rev.  Patrick  Redmond  was  P.P.  of  Crossabeg  from  circa 
1746  to  1776.  In  1765  he  built  a small  thatched  chapel  at 
Crossabeg  for  the  parishioners  of  Kilpatrick,  Artramont,  and 
Tykillen,  He  also  had  a chapel  at  Ballymurn  for  the  parish  of 
Kilmallock. 

Rev.  Redmond  Roche  was  P.P.  from  1776  to  i8iq.  His 
chapel  at  Ballymurn  was  burned  by  the  ascendancy  faction  on 
June  2ist,  1798,  while  that  of  Crossabeg  shared  the  same  fate  on 
June  24th,  1799.  Father  Roche  died  on  April  9th,  1819,  and  was 
buried  in  the  ancient  cemeter}^  of  Kilpatrick  within  Saunderscourt 
demesne. 

Rev.  James  Dixon,  who  had  been  first  Prefect  Apostolic  of 
Australia,  one  of  the  “ convict-priests  ” of  ’98,  and  was  C.C.  of 
the  parish  since  1811,  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  in  April, 
1819.  He  laboured  in  Crossabeg  for  twenty-one  years,  and  died 
in  Januar}',  1840.  His  epitaph  in  Crossabeg  church  (which  had 
been  rebuilt  by  Father  Roche  in  1802)  reads  as  follows: — 
“ Of  your  charity,  pray  for  the  soul  of  the  Rev.  James  Dixon, 
Pastor  of  Crossabeg  and  Ballymurn.  He  died  on  the  4th  of 
January,  1840,  in  the  83rd  year  of  his  age.” 

Rev.  Nicholas  Furlong  was  transferred  from  Litter  to 
Crossabeg  on  February  3rd,  1840,  and  laboured  till  his  death  on 
December  22nd,  1849. 

Rev.  John  Barry,  C.C.  of  Kilmore  since  1846,  was  promoted 
to  the  pastorate  on  March  13th,  1850.  He  died  on  January 
5th,  1857. 

Rev.  Denis  Kenny,  C.C.  of  Castlebridge  since  1853,  was 
appointed  P.P.  in  April,  1857.  After  a pastorate  of  three  5’ears 
he  was  transferred  to  New  Ross  on  October  21st,  i860. 

Rev.  William  Murphy,  Adm.  of  Enniscorthy  since  1846,  was 
promoted  to  the  pastorate  on  October  21st,  i860,  but  w’as 
transferred  to  Taghmon  in  January,  1866. 

Rev.  John  Keating,  C.C.  of  Kilmore  since  1858,  was  made 
P.P.  in  January,  1866,  but  died  on  October  5th,  1867. 


157 


Rev.  William  Furlong,  C.C.  of  Glynn  since  1845,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  November  5th,  1867,  but  died  in  a little  over 
twelve  months,  on  December  13th,  1868. 

Very  Rev.  Edmond  (Canon)  Doyle,  C.C.  of  the  parish  since 
1858,  was  made  P.P.  in  January,  1869,  and  had  a pastorate  of 
nearly  twenty-four  years.  He  died  on  September  20th,  1893. 

Very  Rev.  James  (Canon)  O'Brien  was  P.P.  from  1893  to 
November,  1901,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Adamstown. 
During  his  pastorate  the  church  of  Ballymurn  was  solemnly 
dedicated  b\'  the  Bishop  of  Ferns  on  October  13th,  1900. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

Within  the  demesne  of  Saunderscourt  is  the  ruined  church  of 
Kilpatrick  in  the  centre  of  the  ancient  cemetery.  The  only 
remarkable  feature  is  the  beautiful  Hiberno-Romanesque 
doorway  which  was  taken  from  the  now-disappeared  church  of 
St.  David  at  Ballynaslaney.  Not  far  from  the  ruined  church  of 
Kilpatrick  is  St.  Patrick’s  Well.  At  Artramont  there  is  also  a 
holy  well  dedicated  to  St.  Patrick,  adjoining  the  ancient 
churchyard. 

Only  a small  portion  of  the  south  wall  of  Kilmallock  church 
remains.  The  churchyard  is  a large  one,  and  contains  some 
tombs  of  interest,  including  that  of  Father  Mogue  Kearns,  of  ’98 
fame.  Not  far  off  is  the  holy  well  of  St.  Mary’s,  and  the  family 
vault  of  the  Hays  of  Ballinkeele. 

Adjoining  the  road  from  Crossabeg  to  Ballymurn  is  a holy 
well,  St.  Killian’s,  called  Toberahilleen,  which  in  former  days 
attracted  pilgrims.  The  pattern  day  was  July  8th,  the  feast  of 
St.  Killian. 

Toberfinick  is  in  the  parish  of  Artramont.  Its  derivation  is 
obscure,  but  it  probablj’  means  “ the  dear-water  well  ” (tober- 
fion-ui.sge). 


158 


Parish  of  Glynn 


The  present  parish  of  Glynn  represents  the  older  parishes  of 
Whitechurch-Glynn,  Kilbride-Glynn,  Ardcandrisk,  and  Ferry 
Carrig.  It  also  includes  Killurin,  with  the  chapelry  of  Carrig- 
menan  (Chapel  Charon).  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Bree  ; on 
the  south  by  the  Mountain  of  Forth  ; on  the  east  by  Wexford 
town  ; and  on  the  west  by  Taghmon.  Nothing  of  special 
interest  is  to  be  chronicled  of  the  parish  in  pre-Reformation  days. 
The  Furlongs  were  Lords  of  Carrigmenan  till  1638  when  the 
estate  was  purchased  by  Philip  Devereux.  In  1404  Sir  John 
Talbot  granted  the  church  of  St.  Nicholas  at  Carrick  (Ferry 
Carrig)  to  the  Priory  of  Selskar.  It  is  well  to  note  that  White- 
church-Glynn is  quite  a different  parish  from  Whitechurch,  near 
Dunbrody,  while  the  affix  to  Kilbride  is  to  differentiate  it  from 
four  other  churches  of  that  name  in  the  diocese  of  Ferns.  The 
curacies  are  at  Barntown  and  Boulabaun.  In  1801  Bishop 
Caulfield  returned  the  parish  of  Boulabaun  as  worth  ;£’35ayear  ; 
no  curate.  The  parochial  Registers  go  back  to  1817. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Mark  Redmond  (ordained  on  June  7th,  1696,  by  Bishop 
Daton  of  Ossory)  was  Parish  Priest  of  Kilbride,  Ardcandrisk, 
and  Carrig  for  fifty-one  years.  He  resided  at  Barntown,  under  the 
protection  of  the  Devereux  family.  His  death  occurred  in  1747, 
and  his  remains  were  interred  in  Adamstown  cemetery,  where 
his  tombstone  may  still  be  seen,  bearing  the  following 
inscription: — “Rev.  Mark  Redmond,  died  August  14th,  1747, 
aged  84  years.” 

Rev.  Philip  Furlong  was  P.P.  from  1747  to  1749,  but  no 
details  of  his  pastorate  have  come  down. 


159 


Rev.  William  Doyle  was  appointed  P.P.  on  February 
i6th,  1750,  and  laboured  till  1759.  Bishop  Sweetman  made  a 
visitation  of  the  parish  on  July  2nd,  1753  ; “everything  found 
in  edifying  order,  and  he  gave  an  extraordinary  good  sermon  on 
ye  occasion.” 

Rev.  Patrick  Redmond  (a  nephew  of  Father  Mark  Redmond) 
was  P.P.  from  1759  to  1766.  He  died  at  the  age  of  56,  and  was 
interred  in  the  cemetery  of  Ardcandrisk. 

Rev.  Peter  Devereux  laboured  from  1766  to  1817— a pastorate 
of  fifty-one  years.  He  built  a thatched-church  at  Glynn  in  1789, 
and  did  all  the  work  of  the  parish  single-handed. 

Very  Rev.  Patrick  (Dean)  Murphy  was  appointed  P.P.  on 
January  17th,  1S17,  and  had  a pastorate  of  half  a century.  On 
October  20th,  1821,  he  was  given  a curate.  Rev.  Martin  Moran, 
who  was  sent  to  Bree,  in  1827,  and  was  replaced  by  Rev.  Edward 
Kavanagh,  whose  successor  was  Rev.  Walter  Harpur  (1830-1839). 
Canon  Murphy  was  made  Dean  of  Ferns  in  1829,  and  he  built 
Barntown  church  in  1848.  In  1842  a second  curate  was  provided 
in  the  person  of  Rev.  Denis  Foley,  and  in  1845  Rev.  William 
Furlong  replaced  Rev.  Patrick  Rossiter.  Dean  Murphy  died  on 
January  22nd,  1867. 

Very  Rev.  Denis  (Canon)  Foley,  C.C.  of  the  pari.sh  since 
1842,  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  on  February  21st,  1867,  and 
died  on  February  9th,  1883.  Rev.  William  Furlong,  C.C.,  was 
made  P.P.  of  Crossabeg  on  November  5th,  1867,  and  was 
replaced  by  Rev.  James  Browne  (the  present  Bishop  of  Ferns), 
who  was  transferred  to  Wexford  in  November,  1869. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Parker,  C.C.  of  Cushinstown  since 
1872,  was  appointed  P.P.  in  March,  1883,  and  was  transferred  to 
Ferns  in  September,  1891. 

Rev.  Patrick  O' Dwyer  had  a short  pastorate— which  extended 
from  September,  1891,  to  his  death  on  January  17th,  1896. 

Very  Rev.  John  F.  (Canon)  Doyle  was  appointed  P.P.  on 
February  7th,  1896,  and  was  transferred  to  Ferns  in  November, 
1901.  During  his  pastorate  Barntown  church  was  solemnly 
dedicated  by  the  Bishop  of  Ferns,  in  September,  1899. 

Very  Rev.  Daniel  W.  (Canon)  Redmond  was  appointed  P.P. 
on  November  20th,  1901,  and  is  the  present  Pastor. 

160 


• ANTIQUITIES. 

The  ruinous  church  of  Ardcandrisk  is  in  the  demesne  of 
Ardcandrisk.  Adjoining  it  is  the  holy  well  dedicated  to  St. 
Eusebius,  formerly  much  visited  for  the  cure  of  sore  eyes  and 
headaches,  on  the  pattern  day,  September  26th.  Not  far  off  is  a 
fine  Rath,  west  of  which  is  the  spot  where  John  Colclough  was 
fatally  shot  in  a duel  with  W.  C.  Alcock,  in  1807.  Tykillen 
House  preserves  the  name  of  St.  Killian. 

Ferry  Carrig  is  associated  with  the  siege  of  Garrick- on- 
Slaney,  in  1171.  The  present  castle  was  built  in  the  13th  century 
to  protect  the  ferry,  which  was  guarded  on  the  opposite  bank  by 
the  old  castle  of  Garrick.  The  castle  of  Shana  Gourt  (Old  Gourt) 
has  been  replaced  by  a modern  monument,  a Grimean  memorial, 
built  in  imitation  of  an  ancient  round  tower.  Originally,  in  1169, 
.Maurice  Fitzgerald  (not  FitzStephen,  as  is  popularly  supposed) 
built  the  Gastle  of  Garrick,  on  the  rock,  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Slane}',  which  gives  its  name  to  the  parish  of  St.  Nicholas  of 
Garrick.  The  advowson  of  the  church  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
Lords  of  the  Liberty  of  Wexford,  and  so  continued  till  1404,  when 
it  was  presented  to  Selskar  Priory.  St.  Nicholas  of  Myra  was  the 
Patron  Saint.  Scarce  a vestige  of  the  church  now  remains,  but 
from  an  examination  of  the  foundations  of  the  walls,  it  was 
evidently  a small  structure.  The  cemetery  is  still  used,  and  is  in 
a secluded  spot  near  the  mouth  of  a glen  through  which  flows  a 
mountain  stream.  Not  far  off  is  St.  Nicholas's  Well. 

Barntown  Gastle  is  a fine  ruin.  There  was  also  a castle  at 
Gullentra.  A “pattern  ” was  held  at  Killurin  on  St.  Laurence’s 
Day  (August  loth),  but,  owing  to  abuses,  was  discontinued  by 
Dean  Murphy.  There  are  some  traces  of  the  old  church  of 
Whitechurch,  and  of  chapelries  at  Boolabaun  and  Bulgan 
(Cill-aiU).  Lady’s  Well,  near  W''hitechurch,  is  evidence  of  the 
dedication  of  that  parish  to  the  Blessed  Virgin.  There  are  no 
remains  of  the  old  church  of  Whitechurch,  but  the  graveyard  is 
still  occasionally  used.  There  is  another  old  graveyard  in  the 
townland  of  Barmoney,  near  which  is  a holy  w'ell — but  the  name 
of  the  patron  saint  has  not  been  handed  down.  Not  a trace 
remains  of  the  old  church  of  Killurin  (Ghapel  Gharon),  but  some 
of  the  stones  were  incorporated  in  the  Protestant  church, 
adjacent  to  the  old  churchyard.  Kilbride  church  has  also 
disappeared,  but  the  graveyard  remains  as  a silent  witness  of  the 
temple  formerly  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid. 

161 


M 


Parish  of  Kilmore 


Kilmore  is  a very  extensive  parish  in  South  Wexford.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Cleristown  and  Murrintown  ; on  the 
south  by  the  Atlantic  Ocean  ; on  the  east  by  Ballymore  and 
Mayglass ; and  on  the  west  by  Rathangan  and  Cleristown.  It 
represents  the  older  parishes  of  Kilmore,  Kilturk,  Tomhaggard 
and  Mulrankin.  It  is  well  to  note  that  Kilmore  Quay  is  about 
three  miles  from  Kilmore,  of  which  it  is  a curacy,  and  is  a pretty 
watering  place.  Tradition  associates  St.  Patrick  with  Kilmore, 
the  church  of  which  was  dedicated  to  the  National  Apostle  : 
and  visitors  are  well  acquainted  with  the  causeway  of  rocks 
extending  to  the  Little  Saltee  Islands  called  St.  Patrick's  Bridge. 
In  1245  the  monks  of  Tintern  Abbey  acquired  Kilmore,  Kilturk, 
and  Tomhaggard.  Tomhaggard  was  dedicated  to  St.  Mosacer, 
and  Mulrankin  was  dedicated  to  St  David.  The  “ pattern  ” day 
of  Kilmore  was  transferred  to  the  19th  of  March  so  as  not  to 
clash  with  the  celebration  of  St.  Patrick’s  Day,  and  hence 
O’Donovan  assumed  that  St.  Joseph  was  the  Patron.  St.  Guana 
the  Leper  is  said  to  have  been  the  Patron  of  Kilturk,  but  the 
“ pattern  ” day  is  April  4th.  The  last  Catholic  Rector  of 
Tomhaggard  under  the  old  regime  was  Rev.  Balthazar  Butler,  in 
1552,  while,  at  the  same  time.  Rev.  Thomas  Synnott  was  Vicar 
of  Mulrankin.  On  July  3Tst,  1578,  William  Pratt  was  given  a 
patent  by  the  Crown  of  the  right  of  the  next  presentation  to 
“ the  rectories  of  Tomhaghard  and  Killaloge,  and  the  vicarages 
of  Kilturk  and  Kilmore.”  In  1801,  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the 
parish  of  “ Kilmoor  ” as  worth  £ss  a.  year,  with  one  curate. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  John  Stafford  laboured  in  the  district  from  1590  to  1609, 
succeeded  by  Rev.  William  Hanton  (1609-1626)  who  lived  at 
Pullingtown.  Rev.  Patrick  Keating  would  seem  to  have  been 


162 


Pastor  of  Kilmore  in  1637,  as  there  is  a chalice  still  in  existence 
recording  that  this  great  priest  had  got  it  made  for  the  parish  of 
St.  Patrick,  Kilmore,  in  that  year.  In  1650,  after  the  Cromwellian 
usurpation,  a Mass-station  was  erected  in  the  “knock  of  furze” 
at  Linziestown,  close  to  Tacumshane  Lake.  The  devoted  Pastor, 
Rev.  Nicholas  Meyler,  was  murdered  there  while  celebrating 
Mass  on  Christmas  morning  of  the  3’ear  1653,  and  was  buried  in 
Tomhaggard.  His  successor.  Rev.  Richard  Norton  (1653-1692) 
was  highly  esteemed  by  Bishop  Wadding. 

Rev.  William  Lambert  was  P.P.  of  Kilmore,  Kilturk,  and 
Ballymore  from  1696  to  1720,  residing  at  Linziestown,  but  during 
the  same  period  Rev.  Jasper  Devereux  was  P.P.  of  Tomhaggard 
and  Maj’glass. 

Ven.  Peter  Devereux,  Archdeacon  of  Ferns,  was  appointed 
P.P.  of  Kilmore  in  1751,  and  lived  at  Ballyheal3^  He  saved  up 
all  he  could  spare  with  a view  of  founding  a Catholic  college  for 
the  diocese,  but  his  bequest  was  not  made  available  for  twenty- 
five  3^ears  owing  to  the  Penal  enactments  and  legal  technicalities. 
He  died  on  April  15th,  1794,  and  is  buried  in  Tomhaggard. 

Very  Rev.  Andrew  Corish  was  appointed  P.P.  on  May  r4th, 
1794,  and  to  him  is  due  the  present  substantial  church  of  Kilmore, 
commenced  in  1798  and  finished  in  1802.  He  died  in  1808. 

Rev.  Clement  Pettit  was  made  P.P.  in  1808  and  died  on 
March  20th,  1827.  During  his  pastorate  the  churches  of 
Tomhaggard  and  Mulrankin  were  built  by  Rev.  James  Hore, 
C.C. — the  former  in  1813,  and  the  latter  in  1816 — who  was 
promoted  to  be  P.P.  of  Oulart  in  1823. 

Rev.  James  Walsh,  C.C.  of  the  parish  since  1826,  was  made 
P.P.  in  April,  1827,  and  laboured  for  close  on  twenty-fourj^ears.  On 
October  21st,  1836,  he  was  given  Rev.  Philip  Mayler,  C.C.  of 
Enniscorthy,  as  second  curate.  Rev.  John  Kavanagh,  the  senior 
curate  (1823-1846)  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Tagoat  in 
June,  1846.  Father  Walsh  died  on  December  3rd,  1850. 

Ven.  Philip  (Archdeacon)  Mayler,  C.C.  of  the  parish  since 
1836,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  December  4th,  1850,  and  laboured 
for  thirty-three  years.  He  erected  a new  church  at  Kilmore 
Quay,  and  effected  many  improvements  in  the  parish.  His 
curate,  Rev.  John  Keating,  added  a new  wing  to  Mulrankin 
church,  in  1861.  Archdeacon  Mayler  died  on  January  12th,  1884. 


163 


Very  Rev.  Mark  (Canon)  O'Gorman — a native  of  Kellystown, 
Adamstown — C.C.  of  Enniscorthy  from  1868  to  1884,  was 
promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  Kilmore  on  April  7th,  1884 — the 
last  appointment  made  by  Bishop  Warren— and  is  the  present 
P.P.  The  parish  church  was  dedicated  by  the  Bishop  of  Ferns 
on  August  20th,  1902. 

RELIGIOUS  HOUSE. 

Convent  of  St.  John  of  God. 

In  1912,  Canon  O'Gorman  succeeded  in  obtaining  a 
foundation  at  Kilmore  for  the  Sisters  of  St.  John  of  God.  The 
Sisters  have  not  only  a residential  school,  under  the  Department 
of  Agriculture,  for  domestic  economy,  dairy  and  poultry-keeping, 
but  they  also  conduct  a school  for  the  training  of  girls  for 
domestic  service. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

Tomhaggard,  as  its  name  implies,  means  the  tomb  of  St. 
Mosacer,  who  succeeded  St.  Abban  as  Abbot  of  Camaross.  He 
was  also  patron  of  Saggart,  Co.  Dublin.  A clue  to  the  etymology 
is  afforded  by  the  old  spelling,  “ Tomhager.”  It  is  probabl}^  the 
same  place  as  Fion-magh,  as  Lanigan  conjectures.  The  “ pattern  ” 
day  is  March  3rd.  The  ruins  of  the  Celtic  church  in  the 
churchy ai’d  ; the  little  “ Mass-house  ” at  St.  Anne’s  Well ; and  the 
modern  church  mark  the  successive  stages  of  Catholic  worship. 
The  colonists  of  the  13th  centur}'  re-dedicated  the  church  and 
well  to  St.  Anne— displacing  St.  Mosacer.  St.  Anne’s  Holy 
Well  is  opposite  the  ruins  of  the  old  Celtic  church,  and  it  is 
still  frequented  by  pilgrims  on  the  eve  of  the  feast  of  that  saint 
(July  26th).  From  an  examination  of  the  ruins  of  the  church  it 
would  appear  to  be  of  the  same  date  as  that  of  Mayglass. 

In  Kilmore  (Protestant)  church  there  is  a beautiful  marble 
monument,  testif3nng  to  the  importance  of  the  Whitty  family  in 
the  i6th  centurj^ — one  of  whom  was  Bi.shop  of  Ferns  from  1418 
to  1457. 

There  was  an  old  Mass- house  at  the  Lake  (Mulrankin),  and 
a chapel,  called  the  “ Long  Chapel,”  at  Tullibards,  but  no  traces 
of  these  two  now  remain. 


164 


There  are  castles  at  Ballyteige,  Mulrankin,  Ballyhealy, 
Bargy,  and  Baldwinstown — formerly  belonging  to  the  Whittys, 
Brownes,  Cheevers,  Harveys,  and  Keatings  respectively. 
Rathronan  Castle  (Mulrankin)  is  still  in  excellent  preservation. 

In  the  townland  of  Grange  is  the  ruinous  old  church  of  St. 
Patrick,  Kilmore,  of  which  three  of  the  walls  still  stand— the 
western  gable  having  disappeared  in  the  iSth  century.  There  is 
a fine  eastern  window  of  brown  stone,  and  a beautiful  choir  arch. 
A large  cemetery— still  used — is  attached.  About  three  hundred 
yards  east  of  the  ruins  is  St.  Patrick’s  Well. 

The  Protestant  church  of  Kilturk  occupies  the  site  of  the 
now  disappeared  Catholic  church.  In  i8io  the  ancient  temple 
dedicated  to  St.  Cuana  was  pulled  down  to  provide  stones 
wherewdth  to  build  the  “ Church  of  Ireland”  structure — towards 
which  the  Government  gave  a grant  of  /"Goo.  It  serves  as  a 
church  for  the  Protestants  of  Kilmore  and  Kilturk. 

There  are  two  blessed  wells  in  Mulrankin,  one  dedicated  to 
St.  Catherine  (near  Mulrankin  Castle),  and  the  other  at  Brideswell. 
St.  Brigid’s  Well  is  said  by  the  old  people  to  have  shifted  its  site, 
having  been  desecrated. 

The  parish  of  Mulrankin  was  dedicated  to  St.  David,  and  the 
Browne  family  held  the  advowson  of  the  church  from  the  13th 
century  till  1642. 


165 


Parish  of  Lady^s  Island 


The  parish  of  Lady’s  Island,  Insula  Sanctae  Mariae  (Our  Lady’s 
Island),  was  originally  known  as  Lough  Togher,  and  adjoins  the 
village  of  Broadway.  It  represents  the  older  parishes  of  Came, 
Tacumshane,  St.  Iberius,  and  Lady’s  Island.  Came  parish 
(which  formed  part  of  the  corps  of  the  Treasurer  of  Ferns)  is 
associated  with  the  memory  of  St.  Veocc  or  Vogue,  whose 
chapel  is  situated  in  the  centre  of  the  cemetery  at  the  extremity 
of  the  headland  which  projects  into  the  sea  (Carnsore  Point). 
Tacumshane  is  of  non-ecclesiastical  origin,  but  the  parish  church 
was  formerly  dedicated  to  St.  Fintan  (Munnu).  In  the  13th 
century  it  became  of  such  value  that  it  was  formed  as  a Prebend 
(forming  the  corps  of  the  Chancellorship  of  Ferns)  and  continued 
as  such  for  over  a century.  Nicholas  Fleming,  Prebendary  of 
Tacumshane,  was  made  Archbishop  of  Armagh,  in  1404.  Patrick 
Hay  was  Vicar  of  Tacumshane  in  1560.  Lady’s  Island  belonged 
to  the  Augustinian  Canons  of  St.  Mary’s,  Ferns,  and,  in  the  14th 
centurj’,  became  famous  for  a shrine  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  which 
attracted  pilgrims  from  all  parts  of  Ireland.  Richard  Browne 
was  Pastor  of  Lady’s  Island  in  1540,  and  the  tithes— value  for 
yearly" — w'ere  leased  to  Walter  Browne  of  Mulrankin.  In  1552 
David  Power  was  the  lessee,  and  on  March  ist,  1569,  Thomas 
Masterson  \vas  granted  it,  with  the  Abbey  of  Ferns,  but  William 
Browne  of  Mulrankin  claimed  the  advowson  as  Lord  of  the 
Manor  as  late  as  1586,  at  which  date  Rev.  John  Stafford  was 
Parish  Priest.  Pope  Paul  V,  in  1607,  granted  an  Indulgence  to 
all  pilgrims  who  devoutly  visited  Lady’s  Island,  and  in  1610  we 
find  Father  John  Pierce  as  Pastor  of  Came.  During  the 
Confederate  regime,  1642-1649,  a community  of  Augustinian 
Canons  again  settled  on  the  Island,  but  they  disappeared  under 
Cromwell.  The  pilgrimages  continued  until  1710,  when  the 


rigour  of  the  Penal  Laws  put  an  end  to  them  for  a time.  In  1682 
Solomon  Richards  gives  a good  description  of  the  “ holy 
island,”  and  correctly  notes  that  the  two  principal  periods  of  the 
year  for  pilgrims  were  the  rsth  of  August  and  the  8th  of 
September. 

The  parish  is  bounded  on  the  south  and  east  by  the  sea  ; on 
the  north  by  Tagoat ; and  on  the  west  by  Ballymore  (Mayglass). 

The  oldest  Baptismal  Register  dates  from  July,  1737,  while 
the  Marriage  Register  commences  in  February,  1753,  but  both 
are  very  incomplete.  Bishop  Caulfield,  in  1801,  returned  the 
parish  as  worth  £2,0  a year. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Thomas  Turner  was  P.P.  of  Came,  Tacumshane, 
St,  Margaret’s,  St.  Iberius,  and  Ishartmon  from  1615  to  1649.  He 
was  made  Treasurer  of  Ferns  b}’  Bishop  Roche  in  1632.  On 
November  i8th,  1642,  Dr.  William  Devereux,  V.G.,  wrote  an 
order  that  Father  Turner  was  to  be  given  “ the  sedilia  erected  by 
Waller,  pseudo  Chancellor  of  Ferns.” 

Very  Rev.  James  (Canon)  Prendergast  laboured  from  1675  to 
1715.  He  represented  the  Chapter  of  Ferns  at  the  Provincial 
Synod  of  Dublin,  on  August  ist,  1688,  and  he  registered  himself 
as  P.P.  in  1704,  residing  at  Butlerstown.  His  curate.  Rev.  Hugh 
Carne}^  C.C.  (Tacumshane),  died  in  1709,  and  was  buried  in 
Tomhaggard. 

Rev.  Francis  Byrne  was  P.P.  from  1715  till  his  death  on 
May  29th,  1734. 

Rev.  Stephen  Lambert  was  appointed  Pastor  of  Tacumshane 
and  Lady’s  Island,  in  1734,  but  retired  in  1737.  He  was  esteemed 
as  a saint,  and  died  on  January  23rd,  1753.  His  remains  were 
interred  at  Duncormack,  where  there  is  a fine  monument  to  his 
memory. 

Rev.  James  Nicholas  French  was  P.P.  from  1737  to  1763. 
Under  date  of  June  15th,  1753,  Bishop  Sweetman  notes  in  his 
Visitation  book  that  everything  was  in  order  in  the  parish, 
although  there  had  been  some  misunderstanding  over  his 
collation. 

Very  Rev.  Mun.  (Canon)  Stafford  laboured  from  1763  to 
December,  1806.  His  curate.  Rev.  Thomas  Browne,  died  on 


July  22nd,  1799.  Canon  Stafford  built  a modest  church  at  Lady’s 
Island,  in  1801. 

Rev.  Francis  Scallan  was  appointed  P.P.  in  January,  1807, 
and  died  on  April  29th,  1838. 

Very  Rev.  Patrick  (Canon)  Walsh,  who  had  been  C.C.  of  the 
parish  since  1814,  was  promoted  to  the  Pastorate  on  May  31st, 
1838,  and  laboured  till  his  death  on  August  22nd,  i860. 

The  Venerable  Archdeacon  James  Walsh  (brother  of  the 
preceding)  had  been  successively  P.P.  of  Newtownbarry  and 
of  New  Ross,  and  was  transferred  thither  in  i860.  On  May  nth, 
1863,  the  foundation  stone  of  the  present  beautiful  church  was 
laid,  from  plans  designed  by  Pugin  and  Ashlin,  and  it  was  opened 
on  the  Feast  of  the  Assumption,  1864.  Archdeacon  Walsh  died 
on  the  7th  of  June,  1868. 

Tlie  Venerable  Archdeacon  Thomas  Roche  (who  had  laboured 
as  C.C.  of  Enniscorthy  for  twenty-two  years)  was  appointed  P.P. 
in  June,  186S,  and  he  completed  the  church  in  every  detail,  which 
was  solemnly  dedicated  by  the  Bishop  of  Ferns  on  August  loth, 
1891.  After  a pastorate  of  twenty-eight  years.  Archdeacon  Roche 
died  on  27th  December,  1896. 

Very  Rev.  William  (Canon)  Whitty  (wdio  had  been  Superior 
of  the  House  of  Missions,  Enniscorthy,  from  1884  to  1896)  was 
P.P.  from  January,  1897,  till  April,  1907,  when  he  was  transferred 
to  Newtownbarry,  and  w'as  made  Archdeacon  of  Ferns.  He 
revived  the  ancient  pilgrimage  to  Lady’s  Island. 

Rev.  Patrick  Doyle,  who  had  been  Adra.  of  Wexford  since 
1897,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  May  ist,  1907,  and  is  the  present 
Pastor. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

There  is  an  old  castle  on  the  peninsula  in  Lough  Tay,  or 
Lady’s  Island  Lake,  said  to  have  been  erected  by  Ralph  Lambert 
in  1237.  South  of  the  court  and  castle  are  the  ruins  of  St.  Mary’s 
Abbey  church— a cell  to  the  Abbey  of  Ferns— consisting  of  the 
western  gable,  with  a double  belfry,  and  fragrrients  of  the  side 
walls.  On  the  northern  point  of  the  island,  approached  from  the 
village  by  abroad  causeway,  there  is  a strong  tower  (14th  century) 
partially  rent,  and  leaning  forward  in  a south-westerly  direction. 


168 


In  the  ruined  church  of  Tacumshane  there  is  a marble 
monument,  having  a deeply  incised  floriated  cross  down  the 
centre,  and  bearing  the  following  inscription  in  raised  letters  : — 
“ Hie  jacet  Dominus  Johannes  Ingram,  quondam  Rector  istius 
ecclesiae,  cujus  animae  Tu  Alme  miserere  Deus.”  No  date  is 
given,  and  it  has  been  conjectured  that  the  tomb  belongs  to  the 
founder  of  the  church  in  the  early  years  of  the  14th  century.  I 
have  been  fortunate  in  discovering  the  name  John  Ingram  in 
1304.  He  was  a canon  of  Ferns,  and  was,  doubtless.  Rector  of 
Tacumshane.  His  name  occurs  in  the  Patent  Rolls  as  one  of  the 
two  canons  of  Ferns  who  announced  the  death  of  Richard  of 
Northampton,  Bishop  of  Ferns,  on  March  12th,  1304.  He  had 
permission  to  reside  in  Fngland  in  1308.  The  church  was 
dedicated  to  St.  Fin  tan  (Munnu)  or  St.  Mun,  whose  feast  is  on 
October  21st.  There  were  also  chapels  dedicated  to  the  Blessed 
Virgin  and  St.  Catherine.  Tacumshane  Castle  belonged  to  the 
Hay  family. 

Came  is  particularly  interesting  to  the  archaeologist,  as  it 
contains  the  old  Celtic  oratory  of  St.  Veocc.  The  church  and 
well  are  well  worthy  of  attention.  A “ pattern  ” was  held  on 
January  20th.  St.  Veocc  is  also  lionoured  on  June  15th.  Cross 
Fintan  Point,  near  Came,  preserves  the  memory  of  St.  Fintan 
(Munnu). 

The  wonderful  Rath  of  Ballytrent  is  well  worth  the  attention 
of  the  archaeologist— but  it  has  been  sadly  altered  with  a view  of 
modernising  it. 

Ballytory  Castle,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  lake  of  Lady's 
Island,  in  the  parish  of  Tacumshane,  was  a stronghold  of  the 
French  family,  and  in  that  castle  was  born  the  famous  Bishop 
Nicholas  French,  in  1604.  There  are  some  trifling  remains  of 
the  chapel  of  All  Saints  in  Ballytory.  The  site  of  St.  Anthony’s 
chapel  at  f'urseystown  is  still  pointed  out,  as  is  also  that  of 
St.  Sanpson  at  Ballysampson,  and  of  St.  George  at  Rathmore. 

Bargy  Castle  and  Butlerstown  Castle  are  in  the  vicinity. 
The  former  is  associated  with  the  memory  of  the  unfortunate 
Bagenal  Harvey.  Sigginstown  Castle  is  reminiscent  of  the  now- 
forgotten  family  of  Siggins.  Ballymakane  Castle  was  an  ancient 
seat  of  the  Stafford  family. 


169 


There  are  also  remains  of  ruined  churches  at  St.  Ibar’s,  St. 
Margaret’s  and  Sigginstown.  The  holy  well  of  St.  Ibar’s  was 
formerly  much  frequented,  as  was  also  a famous  well  near 
Buncarrig. 

An  ancient  silver  crucifix,  formerly  belonging  to  the  church 
of  St.  Iberius,  was  discovered  in  the  Lake  some  twenty-one 
years  ago.  Rev.  Thomas  O’Byrne,  C.C.  of  Tacumshane  (1900- 
1911)  got  a case  made  for  it,  and  it  now  rests  under  the  side 
altar  in  the  present  church  of  Lady’s  Island,  where  is  also  to  be 
seen  a rude  statue  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  found  in  the  old 
church  on  the  Island.* 


* J.  B.  Trotter  visited  Lady's  Island  cemetery  in  1812,  and  describes  some  of 
the  “rustic  tombstones”  on  which  were  laid  “simple  garlands  of  white 
cut-paper,  curiously  adorning  a number  of  sticks  bent  as  hoops,  as  a last  mark 
of  respect  and  affection.” 


170 


Parish  of  Piercestown 


The  present  parish  of  Piercestown  represents  the  older  parishes 
of  Rathmacknee,  Rathaspeck,  Killiane,  Kilmachree,  Drinagh, 
and  Kildavin.  It  was  known  as  the  parish  of  Rathmacknee  as 
late  as  1814.  Rathmacknee  as  a place-name  is  non-ecclesiastical, 
but  the  church  was  dedicated  to  St.  Martin  of  Tours.  Rathaspeck 
(Bishop’s  Rath)  had  St.  Brigid  as  Patroness.  Murrintown  was 
a chapelry  dedicated  to  St.  Catherine.  Killiane,  originally 
dedicated  to  St.  Liadhain.was  re-dedicated  to  St.  Helen,  while  at 
Little  Killiane  there  was  a chapelry  dedicated  to  St.  Deguman 
(August  27th).  Kilmachree  (Drinagh  parish)  had  All  Saints  for 
Patron,  but  the  older  dedication  w'as  to  St.  Kevin.  In  the  13th 
century  the  churches  of  Killiane  and  Kilmachree  were 
impropriated  to  Selskar  Priory.  Rathaspeck  (with  Kildavin) 
formed  part  of  the  corps  of  the  Prebend  of  Edermine  since  the 
year  1385.  In  1240,  Rathmacknee  was  impropriated  to  All 
Hallows  Priory,  Dublin.  In  1420  William  Corrin  was  Vicar  of 
Rathaspeck.  At  a court  of  inquiry  held  on  June  2nd,  1460,  it 
was  found  that  the  presentation  to  the  church  of  Rathmacknee 
lay  in  the  gift  of  the  Prior  of  All  Hallows.  John  Harman  was 
the  last  Vicar  of  Rathmacknee  under  the  old  regime  in  1556. 
Drinagh  was  re-dedicated  to  St.  Barnabas.  Kildavin  was 
dedicated  to  St.  Devan,  whose  feast  is  ist  of  August. 

Bishop  Caulfield,  in  1801,  returned  the  parish  of  Piercestown 
as  valued  at  £30  a year,  with  one  curate.  The  parish  Registers 
go  back  to  1811. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Most  Rev.  Michael  Rossiter  (a  scion  of  the  Rossiters  of 
Rathmacknee  Castle)  was  Parish  Priest  of  Killinick,  Kilmachree, 
and  Rathmacknee  from  1673  to  1709.  He  registered  himself  as 


P.P.  in  1704,  previous  to  which  he  had  assisted  at  the  Provincial 
Council  of  Dublin,  in  1685.  He  was  Dean  of  Ferns  in  1692,  and 
was  appointed  Bishop  in  1697,  retaining  his  parish  till  his  death 
in  March,  1709.  Bishop  Rossiter  was  buried  in  the  family  vault 
at  Rathmacknee.  Father  Francis  Esmonde  registered  himself  as 
P.P.  of  St.  Peter’s,  Drinagh,  Kildavin,  and  Rathaspeck.  in  1704.* 

Very  Rev.  William  Devereux  was  appointed  P.P.  of 
“ Rathmanee  ” in  1730.  He  was  Chancellor  of  Ferns  in  1739,  and 
Vicar  General  of  the  diocese.  Dr.  Devereux  was  an  extremely 
able  man,  and  compiled  a most  valuable  Catechism  for  the 
Diocese  of  Ferns  (wrongly  attributed  to  his  namesake  of  a 
century  previous).  His  pastorate  lasted  forty-one  years,  during 
which  he  built  a thatched  chapel  at  Murrintown.  He  died  on 
August  20th,  1771. 

There  is  a lacuna  from  1771  to  1782,  but  in  the  latter  year 
Rev.  Roderick  O’Connor  was  “ Pastor  of  Rathmacnee.”  Father 
O’Connor  laboured  in  the  district  from  1782  to  1807.  In  1796 
Father  Patrick  O’Toole,  his  curate,  was  enabled  to  build  a good 
slated  chapel  at  Kilmachree  through  the  munificence  of  Mr. 
Jacob  Poole,  a benevolent  Quaker  of  Killiane.  Although  an 
unpretentious  structure,  it  did  duty  for  half  a century  as  a 
chapel  of  ease.  On  April  24th,  1799,  the  church  of  Murrintown 
was  burned  by  the  Orangemen.  Father  O’Connor  died  in  1807, 
and  a stone  slab  in  the  wall  of  the  parish  church  at  Piercestown 
has  the  following  inscription  : — 

“ Here  lies  the  Body  of  the  Rev.  Rodk.  O'Connor,  Pastor  of 
Rathmanee,  who  departed  this  life  April  2nd,  1807,  aged  58  years. 
The  Lord  have  mercy  on  his  soul.” 

Rev.  Patrick  O’Toole,  who  had  been  C.C.  for  twenty  \'ears, 
was  appointed  P.P.  in  1S07,  but  was  forced  through  ill  health  to 
retire,  in  1809.  He  lived  the  life  of  a saint  in  retirement  until 
his  death  on  February  3rd,  1814,  and  was  buried  in  the  chapel  of 
Murrintown,  where  a mural  slab  bears  the  following  epitaph  : — 
“ Here  lieth  the  body  of  the  Rev.  Patrick  O’Toole,  who  departed 
this  life  Feb.  3rd,  1814,  in  the  58th  year  of  his  age.  Lord  have 
mercy  on  his  soul.” 

‘Father  Esmonde  died  in  1729,  and  was  buried  in  Bannow  church,  as  was 
also  his  married  brother. 


172 


The  Venerable  Archdeacon  Mark  O’Keeffe  (a  native  of 
Carrigbyrne)  -was  P.P.  from  March,  1809,  to  1838.  Archdeacon 
O’Keeffe  procured  two  chalices  for  his  parish,  in  1809,  one  for 
Piercestown  and  the  other  for  Murrintown,  and  he  built  the 
present  church  at  Piercestown  in  1828-9.  He  was  a most  zealous 
pastor,  and  governed  the  parish  for  thirty  years.  The  following 
is  the  inscription  on  his  tomb  ; — “ Pray  for  the  soul  of  Rev. 
Mark  O’Keeffe,  P.P.,  founder  of  this  church.  Archdeacon  of  the 
Diocese,  and  Pastor  of  Piercestown,  for  over  thirty  years.  He 
died  October  loth,  1838.  R.I.P.” 

Rev.  Nicholas  Codd — transferred  from  Monageer — was  P.P. 
from  9th  November,  1838,  to  1846.  He  built  the  present  parochial 
house.  The  inscription  on  his  memorial  slab  is  as  follows  : — 
“In  this  church  lie  the  remains  of  Rev.  Nicholas  Codd,  the 
learned,  eloquent,  and  zealous  Pastor  of  Kilmacree.  He  was 
called  to  the  Sacred  Ministry  in  1814,  appointed  to  the  pastoral 
charge  of  Monageer,  in  1818,  and  thence  translated  to  this  his 
native  parish,  in  1838,  where  he  died  on  the  i6th  June,  1846,  in 
the  36th  year  of  his  age.  Requiescat  in  pace.  Amen.” 

Very  Rev.  Patrick  (Canon)  Keating — a native  of  Denistown 
(as  was  also  his  predecessor)  and  C.C.  of  Murrintown  from  July, 
1825,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  September  13th,  1846.  In  September, 
1856,  after  the  death  of  Bishop  Murphy,  the  parish  priests  of  the 
diocese  (as  then  customary)  selected  Father  Keating  as  Dignior 
for  the  vacant  See.  Canon  Keating  (who  had  been  made 
Precentor  of  Ferns,  in  1857)  died  somewhat  suddenly  on  Januar\^ 
iSth,  1858,  and  was  buried  at  his  own  request  in  Murrintown 
church. 

Very  Rev.  Laurence  (Canon)  Kirwan,  President  of  St. 
Peter’s  College,  Wexford,  was  appointed  P.P.  on  Februar}'  nth, 
1858,  and  was  soon  after  made  Dean  of  Ferns.  As  a pastor  he 
ruled  with  unfailing  prudence,  and  he  died  on  August  15th,  1880, 
in  the  75th  year  of  his  age. 

Very  Rev.  James  Browne,  C.C.  of  Wexford  from  November, 
1869  to  1880,  was  P.P.  from  September,  1880,  to  1884,  when  he 
was  selected  to  be  Bishop  of  Ferns,  and  was  consecrated  as  such 
on  September  14th,  1884  (see  Introduction). 


173 


Rev.  Matthew  Joseph  Sinnott — a native  of  Ardcavan,  in 
Castlebridge,  and  C.C.  of  Taghmon — laboured  as  Pastor  from 
September,  1884,  till  his  death  on  Januar3"  24th,  1890. 

Very  Rev.  Patrick  M.  (Canon)  Furlong  (C.C.  of  Lady's 
Island  since  1883)  was  P.P.  from  February  13th,  1890,  to  1896, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  Taghmon,  where  he  died  in  1914. 

Ver}^  Rev.  William  (Canon)  Fortune,  who  had  been  A dm.  of 
Enniscorthj"  Cathedral  since  Julj',  1889,  was  appointed  P.P.  in 
August,  1896,  and  ruled  the  parish  for  eighteen  years.  On  the 
death  of  Canon  Furlong,  he  was  transferred  to  Taghmon  as 
Pastor  of  that  parish,  in  September,  1914. 

Rev.  David  Bolger — a native  of  the  parish  of  Ferns — who 
had  laboured  as  C.C.  of  Rathgarogue  since  March,  1898,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  8th  September,  1914. 

ANTIQUITIES. 

Kildavin  church  has  almost  disappeared,  although  one 
hundred  years  ago  it  was  in  fair  condition.  It  was  dedicated  to 
St.  Davin  or  Devan  {Daimhin  Fortharta  an  Chairn),  whose  feast 
was  celebrated  on  August  ist.  The  church  consisted  of  a nave 
and  choir,  with  a fine  choir  arch.  There  was  a quadrangular 
window  in  the  north  wall.  The  doorway  had  disappeared  in 
1825.  In  the  old  cemetery  occasional  burials  take  place.  St. 
Davin’s  Well  is  about  two  hundred  yards  west  of  the  ruined 
church,  and  a “pattern”  was  held  there  until  1878  on  the  ist  of 
August.  St.  Catherine’s  Well  is  in  Kildavin  Upper,  which  was 
formerly  in  much  repute  for  the  cure  of  sore  eyes. 

The  old  churches  of  Rathaspeck  and  Rathmacknee  were 
within  the  present  demesne  of  Johnstown  Castle — but  they  have 
long  since  disappeared.  This  is  not  so  surprising,  when  one 
considers  that  Kilmachree  chapel  (built  in  1796)  is  now  a ruin. 
Portion  of  Johnstown  Castle  is  incorporated  in  the  present 
magnificent  mansion.  Rathmacknee  Castle  is  well  worthy  of  a 
visit.  Rathlannan  Castle  was  an  old  seat  of  the  Esmondes. 

Drinagh  church  has  almost  disappeared,  but  the  old 
cemetery  is  still  to  be  seen. 

The  place-name  Poulmanagh  is  an  evidence  of  an  old  Celtic 
monastery. 


174 


Between  the  Protestant  church  of  Rathaspeck  and  the  castle 
gate  of  Johnstown  is  an  old  Rath — but  there  is  a more  famous 
Rath  at  Ballytrent. 

Killiane  Castle  is  still  in  good  preservation,  and  there  is  a 
massive  round  tower  on  the  north-east  angle  of  the  keep  ; the 
keep,  or  court,  covers  an  area  of  nearly  half  an  acre. 


Parish  of  Rathangan 


The  parish  of  Rathangan  represents  the  old  parishes  of 
Duncormack,  Killag,  Kilcowan,  Ballyconnick,  Kilmannon,  and 
part  of  Ambrosetown.  In  1327  Duncormack  was  appropriated  to 
the  Knights  Hospitallers  of  Kilmainham,  and  so  continued  till 
1540.  Killag  (of  which  church  John  Young  was  Vicar  in  1420) 
was  dedicated  to  St.  Deguman  or  St.  Denan  (St.  Tenens). 
Kilcowan  was  dedicated  to  St.  Cuan,  and  was  impropriated  to 
Tintern  Abbey,  as  was  also  Killag.  Ballyconnick  was,  in 
reality,  a chapelry  depending  on  Taghmon,  and  was  an  old 
Celtic  foundation,  dedicated  to  St.  Deguman,  whose  feast  is 
celebrated  on  August  27th.  The  church  was  re-dedicated  to  St. 
Anne,  whence  the  name  of  the  townland  of  St.  Anne,  in  which 
the  ruined  church  and  cemeter}'  are  situated.  Kilmannon  was 
dedicated  to  St.  IMaighnan,  whose  feast  is  commemorated  on 
December  iSth.  Although  some  writers  give  St.  Moninne 
(Virgin)  as  Patron,  whose  feast  is  July  6th.  Ambrosetown  was 
dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  was  a “free  chapel.”  In 
1403  John  Teyre  was  Parson. 

The  boundaries  of  the  parish  are  : — North,  the  mountain  of 
Forth;  South,  the  sea;  East,  the  parish  of  Kihnore ; West, 
parish  of  Bannow. 

In  1801  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  as  worth  £()^  a 
year,  having  one  curate.  It  was  generally  known  as  the  parish 
of  Duncormack,  and  so  continued  till  1803,  I'he  parish  Fiegisters 
go  back  to  1823. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Richard  Walsh  was  P.P.  of  Duncormack  from  1685  to 
1720.  He  was  ordained  at  Angers  in  1681,  and  he  registered 


176 


himself,  in  1704,  as  P.P.  of  Duncormack,  Killag,  Ballyconnick, 
Kilmannon,  Mulrankin,  and  Kilcowan,  residing  at  Rathangan. 

Very  Rev.  Joseph  (Canon)  Purcell  was  P.P.  from  1727  till  his 
death  on  January  4th,  1741,  aged  42.  He  was  buried  in 
Duncormack,  where  his  monument  may  still  be  seen. 

Rev.  John  Codd  was  P.P.  from  1741  to  1768,  but  no  details  of 
his  pastorate  have  come  to  hand. 

Most  Rev.  Dr.  John  Stafford  was  appointed  Pastor  of 
Duncormack  in  1768,  and,  on  December  5th,  1772,  was  appointed 
Coadjutor  Bishop  of  Ferns,  but  he  retained  his  parish  till  his 
death,  on  September  30th,  1781.  His  death  was  occasioned  b}'  a 
fall  from  his  horse  when  returning  home  after  having  baptised 
James  Cardiff  (afterwards  surgeon  to  the  79th  Regiment),  and  his 
remains  were  interred  in  the  family  vault  at  Tacumshane. 

Very  Rev.  James  (Canon)  Cullen  was  P.P.  from  October, 
1781,  to  1802.  His  chapel  at  Newtown  was  destroyed  in  1798. 

Rev.  Patrick  Cogley,  Parish  Priest  of  Monageer,  was 
transferred  to  Rathangan  in  1802,  but  died  in  less  than  a year,  on 
April  17th,  1803.  He  was  interred  in  Coolstuff,  and  on  his 
monument  is  the  following  epitaph  : — “ Here  lieth  the  bodj^  of 
Rev.  Patrick  Cogley,  who  departed  this  life  April  17th,  1803, 
aged  52  years.  Requiescat  in  pace.” 

Rev.  Patrick  Codd  (ordained  at  Paris  in  1772)  was  P.P. 
from  1803  to  1810.  His  curate  was  Rev.  James  Dake,  who 
died  in  1830. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Barry  laboured  as  P.P.  from  1810 
till  his  death  on  October  9th,  1836,  aged  72. 

Rev.  Philip  Cullen,  C.C.  of  the  parish  since  1817,  was 
appointed  P.P.  on  December  13th,  1836,  and  had  a pastorate  of 
sixteen  years.  He  was  a native  of  Grayrobin  (Cragrobin),  parish 
of  Kilmore.  In  October,  1837,  a second  curate  was  appointed  in 
the  person  of  Rev.  William  Stafford.  Father  Cullen  died  on 
March  19th,  1853. 

Very  Rev.  Garret  (Canon)  O’Toole,  successively  C.C.  of 
Castlebridgeand  Rathangan,  was  appointed  Pastor  on  March  31st, 
1853.  He  was  born  in  St.  Christopher’s  Island,  and  inherited 
considerable  fortune.  Not  long  after  his  promotion  to  Rathangan 
he  determined  to  build  a suitable  church,  and,  in  the  years 


177 


N 


1871-3,  he  carried  out  his  idea — defraying  the  cost  in  great  part 
out  of  his  own  purse,  aided  by  his  generous  parishioners.  Canon 
O’Toole  not  only  attended  to  the  spiritual  interests  of  his  flock, 
but  he  also  looked  after  their  material  interests.  He  died  in 
February,  1875,  and  was  buried  in  Rathangan  church,  where 
there  is  a fine  monument  to  his  memory,  on  which  his  medallion 
portrait  is  beautifully  carved. 

After  the  death  of  Canon  O’Toole,  Bishop  Furlong  made 
Rathangan  a mensal  parish,  and  appointed  Rev.  Henry 
Williams  as  Adm.  Father  Williams  administered  the  parish 
from  April,  1875,  till  his  death  in  April,  1882,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Father  John  Doyle,  Professor  in  St.  Peter’s  College,  Wexford, 
who  was  promoted  to  the  parish  of  Newbawn,  in  July,  1887. 
After  Father  Doyle’s  promotion,  the  present  Bishop  again  ceded 
Rathangan  and  made  it  parochial. 

Very  Rev.  Nicholas  (Canon)  Hore  was  transferred  from 
Adamstown  to  Rathangan  in  1887.  He  died  on  February 
5th,  1906. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Lennon,  w'ho  had  been  for  many 
years  Superior  of  the  House  of  Missions,  Enniscorth}^  was 
appointed  P.P.  in  1906.  Canon  Lennon  brought  out  an  excellent 
Catechism  and  an  Abridgement  of  same,  and  he  has  contributed 
to  several  periodicals. 

The  present  population  of  the  parish  is  2,200  ; and  there  are 
four  mixed  schools,  namely,  at  Duncormack,  Baldwinstown, 
Clearistown,  and  Forth. 


ANTIQUITIES. 

The  ruins  of  Killag  castle  are  in  fair  preservation,  and  the 
roofless  walls  testify  to  the  fact  that  it  was  of  goodly  dimensions. 
The  cemetery  adjoins  it. 

Only  a small  portion  of  the  walls  of  Kilcowan  church  has 
survived,  but  the  cemetery  is  occasionally  used.  Kilcowan  must 
be  distinguished  from  Kilcowanmore  (Ballybrennan),  though 
both  churches  were  dedicated  to  St.  Cuan. 

The  old  church  of  Ambrosetown  (in  reality  a free  chapel) 
has  almost  completely  disappeared  : portion  of  the  end  wall 
alone  remains.  There  is  a cemetery  attached. 


178 


Duncormack  church  has  completely  disappeared,  but  the 
cemetery — fairly  extensive — is  still  used,  and  contains  a number 
of  interesting  monuments  of  the  i8th  century,  including  those 
erected  to  commemorate  four  priests.  Adjoining  the  cemetery 
is  a splendid  Rath,  which,  unfortunately,  has  not  escaped 
vandalism.  Duncormack  castle  was  in  tolerable  preservation 
till  the  first  decade  of  the  last  century,  when  it  was  struck  by 
lightning : hunters  for  treasure  completed  its  destruction. 

St.  Tenans’  church  at  Ballyconnick  has  almost  disappeared, 
but  the  cemetery  adjoins  the  ruins.  The  townland  is  called  “ St. 
Anne’s,”  though  the  original  Patron  was  St.  Deguman. 

No  ruins  remain  of  Kilmannon  church  : the  cemetery  is 
occasionally  used.  Nigh  at  hand  is  Kilmannon  castle.  There  is 
a holy  well  at  Newtown.  The  present  church  of  Clearistown 
(the  curacy  of  Rathangan)  has  taken  the  place  of  the  disappeared 
church  of  Kilmannon.  Adjoining  it  is  a well,  dedicated  to  St. 
Mannon,  and  the  “pattern”  day  was  July  6th.  O’Hanlon  is  of 
opinion  that  the  patron  saint  was  St.  Moninne,  a holy  virgin, 
also  known  as  St.  Darerca,  whose  feast  is  July  6th.  Ballymagir, 
the  ancestral  home  of  the  Devereux  family,  is  in  the  parish  of 
Killag,  and  is  now  known  as  Richfield. 

Baldwinstown  castle  was  rebuilt  in  1830  by  the  late  Canon 
Stafford,  of  Rathmines  (Dublin),  who  was  born  in  the  castle  in 
1768,  and  who  died  on  November  2nd,  1848. 


179 


Parish  of  Taghmon 


The  parish  of  Taghmon  is  one  of  the  most  historic  in  the  diocese 
of  Ferns.  Though  the  village  is  comparatively  insignificant,  it 
was  formerly  of  considerable  importance.  Founded  by  St.  Fintan 
(Mo  Fhindhu  or  Munna) — also  known  by  the  slightly  abbreviated 
Irish  appellation  of  St.  Munn — in  the  6th  century,  the  old  Celtic 
monastery  and  its  beehive  cells  attracted  scholars  from  all  parts, 
and  developed  into  a great  school.  The  site  of  St.  Munn’s  cell 
was  at  Monichan  (of  the  same  etymology  as  Monaghan  or 
Manachan),  although  modern  writers  allege  that  it  was  on  the 
site  of  the  present  Protestant  church.  Three  large  cemeteries  in 
Taghmon  are  a standing  evidence  as  to  the  importance  of  the 
place,  and  it  was  a valuable  Prebend  until  the  period  of  the 
so-called  Reformation. 

St.  Fintan  died  in  636  on  the  21st  of  October,  and  the  Irish 
Annals  supply  a line  of  Abbots  who  succeeded  the  saintly 
founder  at  Taghmon.  The  Scandinavian  raids  between  the  years 
827  and  917  seriously  affected  the  Abbey,  and  in  960  the 
monastery  became  derelict,  shortly  after  the  death  of  Dunlaing, 
who  is  described  as  “ Abbot  of  Inis-doimhle  and  Teach 
Munna.” 

In  1219  the  Manor  of  Taghmon  fell  to  the  lot  of  Sibilla, 
youngest  daughter  of  William  Marshal,  and  in  1275  it  formed 
part  of  the  inheritance  of  Agatha  de  Mortimer,  from  whom  it 
passed  to  the  Talbot  family. 

Thomas  Cantock,  Prebendary  of  Taghmon,  was  appointed 
Bishop  of  Emly  in  1306,  and  the  vacant  Prebend  was  assigned  to 
John  Sutton,  who  was  also  Rector  of  the  parish  and  so  continued 
till  1349.  Bishop  Esmonde  was  Prebendary  from  1349  to  1353, 
when  he  was  made  Bishop  of  Emly.  John  Keating  was  Rector 
and  Prebendary  from  1365  to  1389.  His  successor,  Thomas  Snell  ' 


180 


(1390-1395).  was  made  Bishop  of  Waterford  and  Lismore,  who  was 
succeeded  by  John  Swayne  (1401-1417),  made  Archbishop  of 
Armagh,  in  1418.  In  1449  David  Crane  was  appointed  Rector  of 
Kilbride  vice  William  Barret,  deprived.  In  1540  David  Walshe 
was  Rector.  William  Devereux  was  the  last  Catholic  Prebendary 
in  1560.  In  1550  James  Meyler  was  Vicar  of  Coolstuff,  and  John 
Denn  was  Rector  of  Kilgarvan. 

The  present  parish  of  Taghmon  includes  Coolstuff  (dedicated 
to  the  Holy  Trinity)  and  Kilgarvan— both  of  which  are  Prebends. 
Taghmon  was  formerly  a corporate  town,  and  returned  two 
members  to  the  Irish  Parliament  till  the  Union.  The  parish 
Registers  go  back  to  1801.  Bishop  Caulfield,  in  1801,  returned 
the  parish  as  worth  £30  a year,  with  one  curate. 

PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Patrick  Hore  was  P.P.  in  1644.  His  remains  were 
interred  in  the  present  Protestant  church. 

Venerable  Gregory  Downes  was  P.P.  from  1690  to  1740.  He 
registered  himself,  in  1704,  as  Parish  Priest  of  Taghmon,  Coolstuff, 
and  Whitechurch- Glynn,  and  he  was  Archdeacon  and  V.G.  of 
Ferns.  In  1702  he  was  tried  at  the  Wexford  Assizes  for  having 
given  faculties  to  Rev.  Michael  Downes,  but  was  released  on 
bail.  He  resided  at  Bricketstown. 

Rev.  Patrick  Redmond  was  P.P.  from  1740  to  1769.  On 
March  loth,  1744,  William  Hore,  Portreeve  of  Taghmon,  reported 
Father  Redmond  as  “ a Popish  clergyman  in  the  Mass  House  of 
Taghmon,”  residing  at  the  house  of  his  brother,  James  Redmond 
of  Harveystown.  Hore  locked  up  the  Mass-house,  and  “allowed,” 
as  he  writes,  “ no  admittance  into  it  in  the  shape  of  the  Popish 
(or  any  other)  worship.”  According  to  the  Visitation  Book  of 
Bishop  Sweetman,  in  1753,  Father  Redmond  was  an  able  pastor 
and  a good  preacher.* 

Rev.  Myles  Murphy  was  C.C.  from  1760  to  1769,  and  is  buried 
in  Trinity. 

Rev.  Malachy  (Loftus)  Brennan  was  appointed  P.P.  in  1769 
and  laboured  for  twenty  years.  During  his  pastorate,  in  1771 
(Trinity  Sunday),  Bishop  Sweetman  consecrated  the  Most  Rev. 
Dr.  Egan  as  Bishop  of  Waterford  and  Lismore,  at  Taghmon. 


*Archivium  Hibernicum.  Vol.  II. 

181 


Father  Brennan  resided  at  Forest,  and  died  on  November  2gth» 
1789,  aged  45  years.  He  was  buried  with  his  relatives  in 
VVhitechurch-Glynn. 

Rev.  Bryan  Murphy  was  appointed  P.P.  in  December,  1789, 
with  Rev.  Denis  Ryan  as  C.C.  He  lived  during  the  troubled  ’98 
period,  and  resided  at  Bricketstown.  In  1800  the  yeomen  forced 
him  to  fly  and  to  swear  that  he  would  never  return  to  Taghmon. 
Ultimately  his  mind  gave  way. 

Rev.  Thomas  Doyle  was  appointed  P.P.  in  1802,  and  was 
transferred  to  New  Ross  in  1818.  His  curate.  Rev.  Thomas 
Walshe,  died  in  1812. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Scallan  (a  native  of  Tagoat)  was 
P.P.  from  1S15  till  his  death  on  May  ist,  1849.  The  marble  slab 
to  his  memory  w^hich  was  erected  in  the  old  church  is  preserved 
in  the  sacristy  of  the  present  church,  and  bears  the  following 
inscription  ; — “ Of  your  charit}'-  pray  for  the  repose  of  the  soul  of 
the  Reverend  John  Scallan,  during  34  years  P.P.  of  Taghmon. 
He  died  May  ist,  1849,  in  the  71st  year  of  his  age,  beloved,  revered, 
regretted.  His  flock,  to  whom  he  was  endeared  by  his  attention, 
by  his  mild  yet  earnest  instructions  here,  have  erected  this 
monument  to  record  the  virtues  of  the  dead  and  the  gratitude  of 
the  living.  Our  Father,  Hail  Mary.”  During  Canon  Scallan’s 
pastorship  the  chapels  of  Trinity  and  Carroreigh  were  built 
respectively  in  1838  and  1843.  His  curate.  Rev.  Thomas  Stafford 
(1817-1838)  was  made  a Canon  on  September  17th,  1837,  and  was 
appointed  P.P.  of  Ballygarret  on  November  6th,  1838. 

Very  Rev.  Loftus  (Canon)  Brennan  (a  native  of  Forest),  C.C. 
of  Crossabeg  from  1828  to  1849,  laboured  as  P.P.  for  almost 
seventeen  years.  He  died  on  January  9th,  1866,  and  was  interred 
in  the  cemetery  of  Whitechurch-Glynn. 

Very  Rev.  William  (Dean)  Murphy,  Parish  Priest  of  Crossabeg 
from  1862  to  1866,  was  transferred  to  Taghmon  in  the  latter  year- 
On  .May  9th,  1869,  he  laid  the  foundation  stone  of  the  present 
beautiful  church  of  St.  Fintan,  on  the  site  of  the  old  Catholic 
church,  and  it  was  completed  in  1871.  He  was  made  Dean  of 
Ferns  and  V.G.  in  1883,  and  he  died  on  May  28th,  1896,  in  the 
88th  year  of  his  age.  There  is  a beautiful  marble  slab  to  his 
memory  in  St.  Fintan’s  church. 


182 


Very  Rev.  P.  M.  (Canon)  Furlong,  Parish  Priest  of  Piercestown 
from  1890  to  1896,  was  transferred  to  Taghmon  on  the  death  of 
Dean  Murphy.  He  was  Canon  and  Vicar  Forane  of  the  diocese, 
and  was  a fearless  champion  of  the  social  and  political  rights  of 
the  people.  Canon  P'urlong  made  many  improvements  in  the 
parish,  and  he  built  a substantial  Hall  as  a reading  room  and  a 
place  of  recreation  for  the  parishioners.  Though  stricken  by 
paralysis  in  1911,  he  struggled  on  till  his  death  on  August  14th, 
1914,  in  the  69th  year  of  his  age. 

Very  Rev.  William  (Canon)  Fortune,  who,  by  a strange 
coincidence,  had  been  P.P.  of  Piercestown  on  the  transfer  of 
Canon  Furlong,  succeeded  the  latter  lamented  clergyman  in  the 
pastorate  of  Taghmon  in  September,  1914.  Canon  Fortune  is 
well  known  as  an  apostle  of  temperance,  and  he  has  already 
done  good  work  in  Taghmon. 

ANTIQUITIES. 

In  the  cemetery  of  the  Protestant  church  of  Taghmon,  the 
site  of  the  pre-Reformation  church,  is  a very  fine  Celtic  cross 
(almost  nine  feet  high),  generally  known  as  St.  Munn’s  cross. 
It  has  not  escaped  vandalism,  as  the  shaft  is  absent,  and  one  arm 
broken.  According  to  popular  tradition  it  marks  the  grave  of 
St.  Fintan,  but  it  is  more  than  probable  that  it  is  a 9th  century 
cross  erected  to  the  memory  of  some  important  personage  St. 
Fintan’s  oratory  and  monastic  settlement  were  at  the  place 
called  Monichaun,  a little  distance  off.  As  previously  stated, 
there  are  three  old  cemeteries  in  Taghmon,  the  cemetery  attached 
to  the  Protestant  church.  Our  Lady  cemetery,  and  the  Monichaun, 
as  well  as  Coolstuff. 

It  would  appear  that  there  was  a Nunnery  in  Taghmon 
before  the  coming  of  the  English.  It  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
Augustinian  Nuns  at  the  end  of  the  12th  century,  being  made  a 
cell  to  the  Abbey  of  Hogges  in  Dublin,  but  became  derelict  about 
the  year  1330,  and  its  lands  were  assigned  to  the  Prior  of  St. 
John’s,  Wexford. 

Kilbride,  near  Taghmon,  was  appropriated  to  the  Priory  of 
Kilclogan.  In  1581  the  Earl  of  Ormonde  got  “St.  Brigid’s, 
Taghmon,’’  but  it  subsequently  passed  to  the  Loftus  family. 


183 


In  addition  to  the  fine  old  castle  of  Taghmon  (still  in 
tolerable  preservation),  there  are  castles  at  Brownscastle  and  at 
Harperstown.  Near  Brownscastle  is  St.  Munn’s  Well,  and 
adjacent  to  the  present  Catholic  church  is  another  well  (Tobar 
Munnu),  dedicated  to  St.  Fintan. 

There  is  no  trace  of  Kilgarvan  old  church,  but  the  chapel  of 
Carroreigh  is  quite  near  the  site,  and  is  one  of  the  two  curacies 
of  Taghmon — the  other  being  at  Trinity,  which  perpetuates  the 
Patron  of  Coolstuff  church.  This  latter  is  near  the  western 
termination  of  the  mountain  of  Forth.  The  mediaeval  church  of 
Coolstuff  is  in  the  townland  of  Glebe,  and  though  ruinous, 
contains  a perfect  doorwaj^  in  the  pointed  style.  Not  far  off  is  a 
holy  well  called  Lady’s  Well,  at  which  “ patterns  ” were  formerly 
held  on  the  Feast  of  the  Assumption. 

Sigginshaggard  castle  is  still  in  fine  preservation,  but  is 
getting  ruinous.  There  is  also  a fragment  left  of  the  castle  of 
Aughnagan  (Achadh  na  g-ceann). 


184 


Parish  of  Tagoat. 


The  present  parish  of  Tagoat  {(Teach-gcotach— the  house  of  the 
cots  or  flat  bottomed  boats)  is  comparatively  modern,  but  it 
represents  the  old  parishes  of  Rosslare,  Kilrane,  Kilscoran,  St. 
Helen's  (Killelan),  St.  Michael,  and  Ballybrennan.  As  a place- 
name  it  is  non-ecclesiastical,  and  its  etymology  is  obscure ; it  is 
not  even  included  in  the  civil  list  of  townlands  in  the  County 
Wexford. 

Rosslare,  according  to  O’Donovan  and  Dr.  Joyce,  means 
“ the  middle  peninsula,”  but  this  derivation  cannot  stand  for 
many  reasons : in  particular,  the  old  spelling  is  invariably 
given  as  “ Rosclare,”  that  is,  “ the  point  or  headland  of  the 
wooden  bridge.”  In  1405  Philip  Mason  was  Rector  of  the  parish 
of  St.  Mary’s,  Rosslare,  and  the  church  was  situated  in  the  place 
now  known  as  Churchtown  (“  Churchtowm  of  Rosclare”). 

Kilrane  {Cill-Ruadhan)  was  dedicated  to  St.  Ruadhan 
(pronounced  Raan),  whose  feast  is  celebrated  on  the  15th  of 
April.  Some  writers  have  asserted  that  the  place-name  is  an 
Anglicised  form  of  “ Coilrane  ” or  “ Coolrane,”  meaning  “ the 
wood  of  the  ferns  ” or  “ the  corner  of  the  ferns,”  but  in  the  Papal 
Registers  of  the  15th  century  it  is  given  as  “ the  church  of  St. 
Rodan,"  clearly  pointing  to  St.  Ruadhan.  Its  ecclesiastical 
importance  is  evidenced  from  the  fact  that  it  was  a Prebend 
annexed  to  Kilcomb.  In  1560  John  Devereux  was  the  first 
Protestant  Rector  of  “ Kilroan,”  and  was  appointed  first 
Protestant  Bishop  of  Ferns  in  1566. 

Kilscoran  is  of  non-ecclesiastical  origin,  and  is  really 
Coill-scoran,  meaning  the  boggy  wood.  The  church  was 
dedicated  to  St.  Inick— one  of  the  seven  daughters  of  Hugh — and 
was  in  the  patronage  of  the  Hay  family.  In  1550,  Thomas  Hay, 
Dean  of  Ferns,  was  Rector  of  Kilscoran. 


185 


St.  Helen’s,  or  Killelan,  was  a small  parish,  as  was  also  that 
of  St.  Michael.  The  former  church  was  dedicated  to  St.  Helen, 
while  the  latter — situated  in  the  townland  of  Bush— had  the 
archangel  St.  Michael  as  patron  ; it  belonged  to  Kilclogan. 

Ballybrennan  was  a chapelry  dedicated  to  St.  Kevin  of 
Glendalough ; the  church  was  profaned  and  destroyed  by  the 
Cromwellians  in  1650.  There  was  also  a chapel  in  the  parish 
dedicated  to  the  Seven  Daughters  of  Hugh. 

From  1734  to  1767  Tagoat  was  included  in  Lady’s  Island, 
but  in  the  latter  year  it  again  became  an  independent  parish.  In 
1801  Bishop  Caulfield  returned  the  parish  of  “ Rosslare  ” as  worth 
a year. 


PARISH  PRIESTS. 

Rev.  Robert  Esmond  was  Pastor  of  this  district  from  1686  to 
1709.  In  1704  he  registered  himself  as  P.P.  of  Kilscoran, 
Kilrane,  Rosslare,  St.  Michael’s,  Ballybrennan  and  Killelane — 
residing  at  Ballydungan.  His  will  was  proved  in  1709. 

Rev.  James  Comerford  laboured  from  1709  to  1734,  after 
which  period  the  parish  was  temporarily  included  in  Lady’s 
Island  (1734-1767). 

Very  Rev.  Matthew  (Canon)  Byrne  was  appointed  P.P.  in 
1767,  but  was  killed  at  Clough  East  Castle  by  Dr.  Waddy  on 
September  7th,  1787.*  His  remains  were  brought  to  Adamstown 
where  the  following  inscription  on  his  monument  may  still  be 
deciphered  : — “ Here  lyeth  ye  body  of  ye  Rev^  Matthew  Byrne, 
dep®'^  7ber  7th,  1787,  aged  57  years.  Requiescat  in  pace.” 

Rev.  Thomas  Carroll  was  P.P.  from  October,  1787,  till  his 
death  on  February  i6th,  1803. 

Rev.  Mark  Cooney  was  transferred  from  Litter  on  February 
24th,  1803,  but  resigned  in  1815.  He  died  on  July  28th,  1817, 
aged  78,  and  was  buried  at  St.  Mary’s,  Taghmon.  He  had  been 
C.C.  of  Tagoat  since  1796,  and  on  his  transfer  from  Litter  the 
name  of  the  parish  is  given  by  Bishop  Caulfield  as  “Tagot, 
Coolrane,  etc.”  He  lived  at  Ballycashlane,  below  the  Lady’s 
Island. 

*Dr.  Madden  does  not  give  the  date  of  Canon  Byrne’s  death,  but  he  states 
that  Waddy  invited  the  Pastor  to  dinner  at  Clough  East  Castle,  and  in  a fit  of 
delirium  tremens  killed  him. 


Rev.  Mark  Barry,  P.P.  of  Kilrush,  was  transferred  to  Tagoat 
in  1815,  and  he  was  given  a curate,  Rev.  John  Cavanagh,  on 
January  15th,  1820.  Father  Barry  was  in  ill  health  when 
appointed  to  Tagoat,  but  laboured  for  five  years.  At  length,  he 
was  compelled  to  resign  on  November  20th,  1820.  He  died  at 
Wexford  on  September  17th,  1847,  aged  88,  and  was  interred  in 
the  Franciscan  cemetery. 

Very  Rev.  Walter  (Canon)  Rowe,  C.C.  of  Enniscorthy  since 
1819,  was  appointed  Adm.  of  Tagoat  on  March  4th,  1821.  On  the 
same  day  Rev.  John  Cavanagh,  C.C.,  was  sent  to  Annacurra- 
Canon  Rowe  was  made  P.P.  of  Tagoat  in  1822,  and  was  given  a 
curate,  Rev.  James  Murphy.  To  Canon  Rowe  is  due  the  present 
church  of  Tagoat  (after  designs  by  Pugin),  and  the  first  Mass  in 
it  was  celebrated  at  his  funeral.  He  died  June  i8th,  1846,  in  the 
53rd  year  of  his  age. 

Very  Rev.  John  (Canon)  Kavanagh — a native  of  Coolcots 
— C.C.  of  Kilmore  since  1823,  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of 
Tagoat  in  June,  1846,  and  laboured  for  twenty-three  years  till  his 
death  on  April  19th,  1869. 

Rev.  John  Kirwan,  C C.  of  New  Ross  since  1858,  was  made 
P.P.  of  Tagoat,  in  May,  1869.  After  six  years  he  was  transferred 
to  New  Ross,  in  September,  1875. 

Rev.  Thomas  Cloney  was  P.P.  from  October,  1875,  till  his 
death  on  January  24th,  1895. 

V'ery  Rev.  Luke  (Canon)  Doyle,  President  of  St.  Peter’s 
College,  Wexford,  from  August,  1888  to  1895,  was  appointed  P.P. 
February  ist,  1895.  His  labours  for  over  twenty  years  are  known 
and  appreciated  even  outside  the  diocese  of  Ferns.  He  built  a 
beautiful  church  and  a neat  curate’s  residence  at  Rosslare,  and  he 
introduced  the  Mercy  Nuns  also  at  Rosslare  in  1911.  Canon 
Doyle  died,  after  a prolonged  illness,  on  December  9th,  1915. 

ANTIQUITIES. 

Mention  has  been  previously  made  of  the  old  churches  at 
Rosslare,  Kilscoran,  Kilrane,  and  Ballybrennan.  The  west 
gable  of  the  ruined  church  of  Rosslare  still  remains,  with  the 
belfry.  The  old  castle  of  Ballybrennan  belonged  to  the  Synnott 
family. 


187 


In  the  townland  of  Burrow  there  is  a holy  well  dedicated 
to  St.  Brioc. 

St.  Michael’s  cemetery  and  a holy  well  are  reminders  of  the 
old  parish  of  St.  Michael’s. 

A fine  cinerary  urn  was  found  on  the  south-west  of  the 
Mountain  of  Forth,  in  1884,  and  is  now  in  St.  Peter’s  College. 

In  1642  Rosslare  Fort  was  erected  by  the  Confederates,  and 
Paul  Turner  was  appointed  first  Captain. 

At  Slade  and  Trimmer — both  in  the  parish  of  Kilscoran— 
there  were  formerly  chapels  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  while  at 
Hillcastle  was  a chapel  dedicated  to  St.  Ruadhan. 


Ferns  in  the  ICpiscopacy. 

iRindins’  /roiii  It'll  to  i i^hl.  aut!  from  top  to  bottom) 

Kiglit  Rev.  Dr.  I.arnbi’rt,  O.F.M  . \'|<;ar  Apostolic  of  Newfoiinilland.  d.  iSif). 

Bishoj)  Browne  of  Kilniore.  d.  1865  ; Bishop  Walshe  of  Kildare  and  Lt'ighlin,  d,  ihgti ; Bishop  Doyle, 
O.S.A.,  of  Kildare  and  I.eignlin,  d.  1834.  ; Bishop  Rickards  of  ( iiahainstown.’d.  iScjo. 

B.ishop  Keating  of  Kerns,  d.  1841) ; Bishop  fSrowne  of  Keiiis  ; Bishop  Sweetnian  of  Ferns,  d.  1786. 
Bishop  (irace  of  Sacramento  ; Bisho|)  Fnilong  of  Kerns,  d.  1873  ; Bishoji  Murphy  of  Kerns,  d.  1856. 
Bishop  Reville,  O.S..\.,  ot  .Saadhnist. 

Bishop  Brownrigg  of  Ossory  ; Bishop  Warren  of  Kerns,  d.  18.84  ; .Xrchhishop  Kelly  of  Svdnev. 
Bishop  t rane,  O.S-.\  . of  Sandhurst,  d.  i88fi;  Bishop  Shiel,  t ).K.M.,  ot  .Adelaide,  d.  1872  ; Bishop  Bower 
of  St.  John’s,  Newfoundland,  d.  181)3;  Bishop  Scallan,  O.F.M.,  ol  St.  John's,  d.  1823. 

Bishop  1 1 iighes,  ( i.K.M.,  of  (.hbraltar,  il.  18(10. 


Archbishops,  Bishops,  and  Distinguished 

Ecclesiastics 

Connected  with  the  Diocese  of  Ferns, 


Roger  of  Wexford,  Bishop  of  Ossory. 

Roger  of  Wexford,  Dean  of  Ossor3^  was  appointed  Bishop  of 
Ossory  in  1287.  He  ruled  but  two  years,  and  died  on  July  31st, 
1289.  His  remains  were  interred  in  St.  Canice’s  Cathedral, 
Kilkenn}^ 

Coll  O’Doran,  O.S.A. 

Coll  O’Doran  was  an  Austin  Canon  of  Ferns  Abbey.  He  wrote 
the  Annals  of  Ireland,  which  was  used  by  Ware.  He  died  in  1408. 

Dermot  O’Dunne,  Bishop  of  Leighlin. 

Dermot  O’Dunne,  Chancellor  of  Ferns,  was  Bishop  of 
Leighlin  from  1462  to  1464. 

Rev.  John  Wadding. 

Rev.  John  Wadding,  a secular  priest  of  Wexford,  (who 
studied  at  Lisbon)  wrote  an  Eccles.  Hist,  of  Ireland  in  1621. 
This  work  (which,  alas  ! has  disappeared)  is  quoted  by  Archdeacon 
Lynch  in  his  Camb.  Eversus.  On  February,  25th,  1632,  he  was 
appointed  Chancellor  of  Ferns. 

Right  Rev.  Matthew  Roche,  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Leighlin. 

Matthew  Roche,  a native  of  New  Ross,  was  Vicar  Apostolic 
of  Leighlin  from  1621  to  1642,  when  Dr.  Edmund  Dempsey  was 
appointed  Bishop. 

Very  Rev.  James  Dixon,  Prefect  Apostolic  of  Australia. 

James  Dixon  was  appointed  first  Prefect  Apostolic  of 
Australia  in  1803,  and  exercised  his  office  for  seven  years.  He 
returned  to  Ireland  in  1810.  For  his  subsequent  career  see  Parish 
of  Crossabeg. 


Right  Rev.  Patrick  Lambert,  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Newfoundland. 

Patrick  Lambert,  O.F.M.,  born  in  the  parish  of  Kildavin, 
became  a member  of  the  Wexford  Franciscan  Convent,  and  was 
appointed  first  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Newfoundland  in  1806.  The 
following  is  his  epitaph  on  a memorial  tablet  in  the  Franciscan 
Church,  Wexford: — “Sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  Right  Rev. 
Patrick  Lambert,  D.D.,  of  the  Order  of  St.  Francis.  Elevated 
from  thence  to  the  episcopal  chair  by  H.  H.  Pius  VII.,  and 
appointed  by  him  his  Apostolic  Vicar  in  the  island  of 
Newfoundland,  and  in  the  discharge  of  the  arduous  duties  of 
which  important  trust,  worn  down  with  infirmities,  he  returned 
to  his  native  city,  where  in  the  hope  of  a blessed  immortality,  he 
expired  on  23rd  of  September,  1816,  in  the  62nd  year  of  his  age, 
and  of  his  consecration  the  loth.  R.I.P.  Erected  as  a small 
tribute  of  affection  by  his  grateful  sister,  Margaret  Rea.’’ 

Right  Rev.  Thomas  Scallan,  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Newfoundland. 

Thomas  Scallan,  O.F.M.,  a nephew  of  Bishop  Lambert,  was 
born  in  Churchtown,  and  was  a Professor  in  the  old  Franciscan 
Academy  in  Wexford.  He  was  chosen  as  second  Vicar  Apostolic 
of  Newfoundland  on  4th  April,  1815,  and  was  consecrated  at 
Wexford  May  ist,  1816,  by  Archbishop  Troy.  He  ruled  from 
1816  till  his  death  at  St.  John’s,  on  29th  May,  1830.  To  his 
memory  was  erected  a beautiful  monument  by  Hogan. 

Most  Rev.  James  Doyle,  “J.K.L.’’  Bishop  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin. 

Several  biographies  have  appeared  of  Bishop  Doyle  and  it  is 
merely  necessary  to  state  that  he  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
of  the  children  of  Ferns.  Born  near  New  Ross  in  1786,  James 
Doyle  entered  Grantstown  Convent  in  1805,  and  became  an 
Augustinian  Friar.  He  was  ordained  at  Enniscorthy  on  October 
ist,  1809,  and  was  Professor  in  Carlow  College  from  1813  to  1819. 
From  the  date  of  his  consecration  as  Bishop  of  Kildare  and 
Leighlin  (November  14th,  1819)  till  his  death  on  June  15th,  1834, 
he  was  a model  pastor  yet  unflinching  in  his  zeal  for  Catholic 
claims.  His  sermon  at  the  dedication  of  the  pro-Cathedral, 
Dublin,  on  November  14th,  1825,  was  very  fine.  Among  the 
many  schemes  he  outlined  for  the  amelioration  of  the  poor  was 
one  for  old  age  pensions. 


Portrait  of  “J.K.L."  (Most  Rev.  .Ta.mes  Doyle,  O.S.A., 

Bishop  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin) — 

By  Miilrenin— belonging  to  Dr.  W.  C.  Lawlor,  J.P..  Xewtownbai ry. 

Reproduced  from  The  C.\rlo\  ian  by  the  courtesy  of  Rev.  P.  .1.  Doyle,  Rector  of  Carlow  Lay  College, 

Knockbeg. 


Most  Rev.  James  Browne,  Bishop  of  Kilmore. 

James  Browne,  a native  of  Big  Barn,  Co.  Wexford,  was  born 
in  1786,  and  entered  Maynooth  College  in  1806.  At  the  completion 
of  his  course,  he  acted  as  C.C.  of  Newtownbarry  for  less  than 
two  years,  and  was  appointed  sub-Dean  of  Maynooth  College  in 
August,  1814.  Having  successively  filled  the  chairs  of  Saci'ed 
Scripture  (1816)  and  of  Hebrew  (1818),  he  was  appointed  Coadjutor 
Bishop  of  Kilmore  on  February  19th,  1827,  and  was  consecrated 
on  June  JOth  of  same  year,  succeeding  to  plenary  jurisdiction 
in  1829.  After  an  able  rule  of  over  thirty-six  years  he  died  on 
April  nth,  1865. 

Right  Rev.  Henry  Hughes,  O.F.M.,  Vicar  Apostolic  of 

Gibraltar. 

Henry  Hughes  was  born  in  the  town  of  Wexford  in  1788,  and 
was  therefore  ten  years  old  when  the  Insurrection  broke  out. 
Endowed  with  rare  natural  gifts  he  was  at  an  early  age  attached 
to  the  service  of  God,  and  resolved  to  become  a Franciscan  Friar. 
Having  pursued  his  studies  at  St.  Isidore’s  in  Rome,  he  was 
ordained  in  1812,  and  was  subsequently  appointed  to  the 
Franciscan  Church  in  Merchants’  Quay,  Dublin.  During  the 
Emancipation  crisis  the  fame  of  Father  Hughes  as  a preacher 
attracted  enormous  crowds,  and  his  eloquence  won  over  many  to 
the  true  fold.  He  was  in  the  Wexford  convent  from  1829  to 
1840,  and  was  Provincial  from  1837  to  1840.  In  the  latter  year 
he  was  selected  by  the  Holy  See  to  be  Vicar  Apostolic  and 
titular  Bishop  of  Gibraltar,  and  though  he  shrank  from  episcopal 
honours,  he  was  induced  to  accept  the  post. 

Gibraltar  was  not  a very  desirable  place  for  an  Irish  bishop. 
The  position  of  a Vicar  Apostolic  needed  a man  of  diplomatic 
ways  and  training,  and  Bishop  Hughes  was  not  long  in  possession 
of  his  See  when  he  was  confronted  with  a number  of  delicate 
duties.  After  ten  years  of  arduous  labour  the  zealous  Vicar 
Apostolic  returned  to  the  Wexford  Convent,  where  he  spent  the 
declining  years  of  his  life.  When  enfeebled  by  age  and  infirmity 
his  preaching  could  still  attract  vast  numbers,  and  for  the  three 
years  prior  to  his  death  he  preached  from  the  altar,  seated  in  an 
armchair.  At  length,  worn  out,  he  peacefully  expired  on  the  5th 
of  October,  i860,  aged  72  years. 


The  following  inscription  appears  on  his  tomb  in  the 
Franciscan  Friary,  Wexford: — “Right  Rev.  Henry  Hughes, 
O.S.F.,  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Gibraltar.  Died  5th  October,  i860. 
Aged  72  years.  R.I.P.” 

Right  Rev.  Aiden  Devereux,  Bishop  of  Grahamstown, 

Aiden  Devereux  was  born  at  Poulmarle,  near  Taghmon,  in 
1802,  and  was  ordained  for  the  diocese  of  Ferns  in  1826.  He  was 
C.C.  of  Wexford  from  1826  to  1830,  then  went  to  Rome  for  a 
year’s  study,  and  in  September,  1831,  was  appointed  Professor  in 
St.  Peter’s  College,  being  also  chaplain  to  the  jail.  Fired  with 
zeal  for  the  foreign  mission  he  accepted  an  offer  by  Bishop 
Griffith,  O.P.,  to  labour  in  Capetown,  in  October,  1838,  and  in 
1840  he  was  appointed  Vicar  General.  At  length,  on  December 
27th,  1847,  he  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Paneas  and  first  Vicar 
Apostolic  of  the  Eastern  Vicariate  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
The  arduous  duties  of  the  vicariate,  owing  to  a dearth  of  priests 
and  to  the  trying  climate,  enfeebled  him,  and  he  died  on 
February  nth,  1854. 

Most  Rev.  James  Walshe,  Bishop  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin. 

James  Walshe  was  born  at  New  Ross  on  June  30th,  1803,  and 
studied  at  St.  Peter’s  College,  Wexford,  from  1823  to  1826, 
completing  his  course  in  Carlow  College.  In  1850  he  was 
appointed  President  of  Carlow  College,  and  in  1855  he  was 
promoted  to  the  Bishopric  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin.  He  had  the 
happiness  of  celebrating  his  silver  jubilee  on  April  3rd,  1881.  On 
the  latter  occasion  he  was  given  the  sum  of  £520  by  the  clergy  of 
the  diocese  as  a personal  gift,  but  he  accepted  it  on  the  sole 
condition  of  being  permitted  to  forward  it  to  Pope  Leo  XIII. 
which  he  accordingly  did.  Bishop  Walshe  died  in  1888. 

Most  Rev.  James  Alipius  Goold,  O.S.A.,  Bishop  of  Melbourne. 

Rev.  James  Alipius  Goold,  O.S.A.,  made  his  profession  as  an 
Austin  Friar  at  Grantstown,  Co.  Wexford,  in  1832.  He  joinedthe 
Australian  mission  in  1837,  and  was  consecrated  first  Bishop  of 
Melbourne,  on  August  6th,  1848.  He  made  five  visits  to  Rome, 


192 


and  on  the  last  of  these  visits,  in  1873,  See  was  raised  to  the 
dignity  of  an  Archbishopric,  having  for  suffragan  Sees  Ballarat 
and  Sandhurst,  for  which  a Papal  Brief  was  issued  on  March  31st, 
1874.  Archbishop  Goold  died  at  St.  Kilda,  on  June  nth,  1886, 
aged  74. 


Most  Rev.  John  Barry,  Bishop  of  Savannah. 

John  Barry,  of  Wexford,  laboured  as  a secular  priest  for  man}’ 
years  at  Augusta  (Georgia),  and  was  consecrated  second  Bishop 
of  Savannah,  on  August  2nd,  1837.  He  ruled  but  two  years,  and 
was  present  at  the  dedication  of  Bride  Street  Church,  Wexford, 
on  September  nth,  1859.  His  death  occurred  two  months  later 
on  November  21st,  1859. 

Most  Rev.  Laurence  B.  Shiel,  O.F.M.,  Bishop  of  Adelaide. 

Laurence  Bonaventure  Shiel  was  born  in  Wexford  on 
December  24th,  1815,  and  studied  at  St.  Peter’s  College.  He 
joined  the  Franciscan  Order  in  1832  and  proceeded  to  F^ome, 
where  he  was  ordained  in  1839.  Having  been  successively 
Guardian  in  Cork  and  Carrickbeg,  he  offered  himself  for  the 
Australian  mission,  in  1852,  and  accompanied  Bishop  Goold  to 
Melbourne,  being  almost  immediately  appointed  President  of  St. 
Patrick’s  College.  I'rom  1856  to  1866  he  was  Archdeacon  of 
Ballarat,  and  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Adelaide  on  August  15th, 
1866.  He  made  three  journeys  to  Rome  and  Ireland,  and  was 
present  at  the  Vatican  Council.  Having  established  twenty-one 
new  missions,  and  introduced  several  religious  Orders  to  his 
diocese,  his  health  gave  way,  and  he  died  at  Willunga,  on  March 
ist,  1872. 

Right  Rev.  T.  J.  Power,  Bishop  of  Newfoundland. 

Thomas  Joseph  Power  was  a native  of  New  Ross,  and  was 
educated  at  Carlow  College.  He  was  appointed  President  of 
Holy  Cross,  Clonliffe,  and  was  consecrated  in  Rome  on  June  12th, 
1870.  For  over  twenty  years  he  laboured  earnestly  in  St.  John’s, 
Newfoundland,  and  he  established  St.  Bonaventure’s  College. 
His  death  took  place  in  1892. 


193 


o 


Most  Rev.  Thomas  Foley,  Bishop  of  Chicago. 

Thomas  Foley  (son  of  Matthew  Foley  of  Enniscorthy)  was 
born  in  1830  and  was  ordained  at  Rome  in  1854.  He  was 
consecrated  Bishop  of  Chicago  in  1870  and  died  in  1879. 
Cardinal  Gibbons  regarded  him  as  the  finest  pulpit  orator  in 
America — not  even  excluding  Archbishop  Ryan  of  Philadelphia. 

Most  Rev.  J.  D.  Rickards,  Bishop  of  Grahamstown. 

James  David  Rickards  (the  son  of  James  W.  Rickards, 
apothecary)  was  born  in  Wexford  in  1825,  and  was  educated  at 
St.  Peter’s  College.  In  1849  he  accepted  the  call  of  his  townsman. 
Bishop  Devereux,  and  went  to  the  Cape,  where  he  laboured  for 
twenty-two  years.  In  1871  he  was  consecrated  as  third  Bishop  of 
Grahamstown,  and  in  1880  he  introduced  the  Cistercian  Monks 
to  Cape  Colony.  He  establi.shed  “ The  Cape  Colonist,”  which 
did  good  work  for  Catholics  in  South  Africa.  His  death  occurred 
in  1890. 

Most  Rev.  Martin  Crane,  O.S.A.,  Bishop  of  Sandhurst. 

Martin  Crane  was  born  at  Barrystown,  Co.  Wexford,  in  1818, 
and  studied  at  St.  Peter’s  College,  whence  he  joined  the 
Augustinian  Friars  at  Grantstown.  After  the  completion  of  his 
studies  in  Italy  he  was  successively  Prior  of  the  houses  in  Rome 
and  in  London.  Twice  he  was  elected  Provincial  for  Ireland, 
and  his  term  of  office  is  memorable  for  the  beautiful  Augustinian 
churcli  in  Dublin.  He  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Sandhurst  on 
September  21st,  1874,  and  arrived  in  Australia  on  May  15th,  1875. 
His  labours  in  Sandhurst  are  fully  detailed  in  Cardinal  Moran’s 
History  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Australasia.  Failing  eyesight 
and  continued  illness  induced  him  to  seek  for  a Coadjutor,  in 
1885,  and  he  died  in  1886. 

Most  Rev.  Abraham  Brownrigg,  Bishop  of  Ossory. 

Abraham  Brownrigg  was  born  at  Ballypierce,  parish  of 
Clonegal,  on  December  23rd,  1836,  and  was  educated  at  St.  Peters 
College,  Wexford,  finishing  his  course  at  Maynooth  College. 


194 


After  his  ordination,  in  i86i,  he  was  appointed  Principal  of  St. 
Aidan’s  Academy,  Enniscorthy,  and  was  subsequently  (1864-1866) 
Professor  in  St.  Peter’s  College.  In  October,  1866,  he  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  House  of  Missions,  Enniscorthy,  and  he  was 
consecrated  Bishop  of  Ossory  on  December  14th,  1884.  His 
labours  for  thirty-one  years  in  Ossory  are  too  well  known  to  be 
here  set  forth. 


Most  Rev.  John  S.\muel  Foley.  Bishop  oj  Detroit. 

John  Samuel  Foley,  the  youngest  brother  of  the  Bishop  of 
Chicago,  was  born  in  1833  and  was  ordained  in  1856.  He  was 
consecrated  Bishop  of  Detroit  in  1888,  and  ruled  that  large 
diocese  with  rare  energy  for  almost  twenty-seven  years.  He 
resigned,  owing  to  advancing  years,  in  April,  1915. 


Most  Rev.  Stephen  Reville,  O.S.A.,  Bishop  of  Sandhurst. 

Stephen  Reville  was  born  in  Wexford  on  May  gth,  1844, 
and  studied  at  St.  Peter’s  College,  whence  he  joined  the 
Augustinian  Friars  and  completed  his  course  at  Ghent,  where  he 
was  ordained  in  1867.  From  1868  to  1875  he  was  Principal  of  St. 
Laurence  O’Toole’s  Seminary  in  Dublin,  but  in  the  latter  year  he 
accompanied  Bishop  Crane  to  Sandhurst,  where  he  laboured 
zealously  for  ten  years.  On  March  29th,  1885,  he  was  consecrated 
Coadjutor  to  Bishop  Crane,  whom  he  succeeded  in  1886.  He  was 
made  Bishop  Assistant  at  the  Pontificial  Throne  in  1910,  and 
still  ably  rules  the  See  of  Sandhurst. 


Most  Rev.  Thom.a.s  Grace,  Bishop  of  Sacramento. 

Thomas  Grace  was  born  in  Wexford  on  August  2nd,  1841, 
and  was  educated  at  St.  Peter’s  College,  completing  his  course  in 
All  Hallow’s  College,  where  he  was  ordained  on  June  nth,  1876. 
He  was  Rector  of  Marysville  for  eight  years,  and  was  P.P.  of 
Sacramento  from  1884  to  1896.  His  consecration  as  Bishop  of 
Sacramento  took  place  on  June  i6th,  1896,  and  he  still  rules 
the  See. 


195 


Most  Rev.  Michael  Kelly,  Archbishop  of  Sydney. 

Michael  Kelly  was  born  in  January,  1849,  and  was  educated 
at  St.  Peter’s  College,  Wexford,  completing  his  course  at  the 
Irish  College,  Rome.  He  was  ordained  in  1872  and  was  a 
Member  of  the  House  of  Missions,  Eiiniscortlw,  from  1872  to  1891. 
From  1891  to  1901  he  was  Rector  of  the  Irish  College,  Rome,  and 
in  1901  was  appointed  Coadjutor  to  the  Cardinal  Archbishop  of 
Sydney.  Since  1911  Archbishop  Kelly  has  proved  a most  able 
ruler. 

Most  Rev.  Henry  W.  Cleary.  Bishop  of  Auckland. 

Henry  W.  Cleary  was  born  near  Oulart  in  1862,  and  was 
educated  at  St.  Peter’s  College,  Wexford,  at  Maynooth,  St.  Sulpice 
(Paris)  and  the  Apollinare,  Rome.  He  was  ordained  January 
iith,  1885,  and  was  attached  to  the  House  of  Missions,  Enniscorthy, 
from  1885  to  1886.  In  November,  1886,  he  was  appointed  C.C.  of 
Monageer,  and  in  August,  1887,  he  was  made  Professor  in  St. 
Peter’s  College,  Wexford.  In  1888  he  went  to  Ballarat  with 
Bishop  Moore.  From  1898  to  1910  was  Editor  of  The  New 
Zealand  Tablet,  and  did  enormous  work  for  Catholic  education 
in  Australia.  He  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Auckland  in 
Enniscorthy  Cathedral  on  August  21st,  1910,  and  though  not  over 
robust,  is  a strenuous  worker.  He  has  published  many  valuable 
works,  including  a book  on  the  Orange  Society,  which  has  gone 
through  twelve  editions.  His  persistent  efforts  in  the  cause  of 
the  Catholic  schools  have  compelled  the  Commonwealth 
Government  to  yield  to  his  views. 

Rev.  Richard  Hayes,  O.F.M. 

Richard  Hayes  was  born  in  the  town  of  Wexford  on  January 
20th,  1788,  and  received  from  his  excellent  parents  a sound 
religious  training.  He  was  a model  youth,  and  served  Mass  in 
the  Franciscan  Friary  Church  from  1800  to  1S03.  Evidencing  a 
desire  to  become  a member  of  the  Seraphic  Order,  he  pursued  his 
studies  in  the  Franciscan  Academy,  Wexford,  and  proceeded  to 
Rome,  in  July,  1803,  entering  St.  Isidore’s,  where  he  was  received 
and  professed.  Endowed  with  rare  natural  gifts,  he  studied 
sedulously,  and  went  through  a most  brilliant  course.  He  was 
ordained  in  1810,  and  returned  to  his  native  country  in  August, 
1811 — being  attached  to  the  Wexford  Friary. 

196 


As  stated  in  the  account  of  St.  Peter's  College,  it  so  happened 
that  in  the  year  i8ii  Bishop  Ryan  founded  a Catholic  Seminary 
in  Michael  Street,  off  King  Street,  with  Rev.  Dr.  Myles  Murphy  as 
first — and  only — President.  The  Bishop,  knowing  the  classical 
abilities  of  Father  Hayes,  obtained  permission  to  have  him  act  as 
Professor  in  the  new  academy,  to  replace  Mr.  Joseph  Clinch, 
whose  health  was  visibly  failing.  This  was  in  November,  1813. 
For  a year  Father  Hayes  taught  with  conspicuous  success,  but 
in  the  autumn  of  1814  was  ordered  by  his  superiors  to  join  the 
convent  in  Cork,  where  his  services  were  much  needed. 

The  young  Franciscan  Friar,  though  never  very  strong,  did  not 
spare  himself  either  in  the  pulpit  or  the  confessional.  He  paid 
little  thought  to  the  fierce  controversy  then  raging  over  the  Veto 
question  and  the  Ouarantotti  Rescript,  but,  in  the  inscrutable 
ways  of  Providence,  he  was  destined  to  play  a very  important 
part  in  acting  as  agent  for  the  Catholic  Association. 

On  August  23rd,  1815,  the  Bishops  of  Ireland  unanimously 
condemned  any  English  interference,  or  veto,  in  the  appointment 
of  Bishops  of  Irish  Sees,  pronouncing  any  such  interference  as 
“ essentially  injurious  and  eventually  destructive  to  the  Roman 
Catholic  religion  in  Ireland.”  Six  days  later,  at  an  aggregate 
meeting  of  the  influential  Catholics  held  in  the  Carmelite  Church, 
Clarendon  Street,  Dublin,  presided  over  by  Sir  Thomas  Esmonde, 
Bart.,  a similar,  but  much  stronger,  condemnation  was  passed, 
and  a Remonstrance  was  formulated  against  giving  the  Crown 
any  veto  in  the  election  of  Irish  Bishops.  Accordingly,  Sir  Thomas 
Esmonde  and  Owen  O’Conor  (The  O'Conor  Don)  were  appointed 
lay  delegates  to  proceed  to  Rome  to  present  the  views  of  the 
Catholics  of  Ireland,  and  Father  Richard  Hayes  was  selected  to 
be  their  Secretary,  “ a man  of  tried  integrity,  and  intimately 
acquainted  with  the  language  and  customs  of  the  Roman  Court.” 

On  September  ist,  1815,  Father  Hayes  received  from  Mr. 
Edward  Hay,  a letter  enclosing  the  resolutions  of  the  lay  delegates, 
and,  having  obtained  the  leave  of  his  superiors,  he  journeyed 
from  Cork  to  Dublin,  where  he  arrived  a week  later.  Meantime, 
Sir  Thomas  Esmonde  and  O’Conor  Don  had  declined  to  proceed 
to  Rome,  and,  as  a result.  Father  Hayes  was  appointed  as  “ the 
publicly  authorised  delegate  of  the  Catholics  of  Ireland  to  the 


197 


Holy  See” — Archbishop  Murray  and  Bishop  Murphy  being  the 
episcopal  delegates. 

Father  Hayes  reached  Rome  on  October  25th,  just  two  days 
after  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Murray  and  Dr.  Murphy.  He  waited  until 
the  episcopal  delegates  had  interviewed  Cardinal  Consalvi,  and 
he  had  his  first  audience  with  the  Pope  on  November  gth.  At  a 
second  audience,  on  December  22nd,  Father  Hayes  petitioned  the 
Pope  that  the  case  might  be  referred  to  Propaganda,  and  the 
Pope  decided  that  the  papers  should  be  held  over  until  the  return 
of  Cardinal  Litta  from  Milan. 

The  two  episcopal  delegates,  weary  of  waiting,  and  rightly 
distrustful  of  Consalvi,  demanded  their  passports,  and  prepared 
to  leave  Rome  on  January  6th,  1816.  On  the  following  day  they 
received  a letter  from  the  Cardinal  Secretary  which,  so  far  from 
revoking  the  Genoese  document,  actually  attempted  to  justify  it, 
and  also  added  some  uncomplimentary  remarks  on  the  Irish 
bishops.  The  prelates,  therefore,  on  January  8th,  returned  the 
letter  to  Consalvi,  and,  after  a final  audience  with  the  Pope,  took 
their  leave.  On  the  following  day.  Father  Hayes  had  a third 
audience  with  the  Pope,  with  the  result  that  the  Sovereign 
Pontiff  promised  that  the  whole  business  would  be  reconsidered. 

The  ferment  aroused  against  Vetoism  was  increased  by  a 
letter  from  Bishop  Coppinger  and  by  a sermon  (on  Good  Friday, 
1816)  of  Archbishop  Murray,  backed  up  by  the  Synod  of  Kilkenny. 
At  this  crisis  Father  Hayes  formulated  a plan  of  Domestic 
Nomination  by  which  the  parish  priests  were  to  nominate  a ^erna 
from  which  the  selection  of  a bishop  was  to  be  made.  Most  of 
the  year  1816  was  spent  in  arguing  for  this  plan,  and  the  Spring  of 
the  year  1817  found  matters  still  undecided.  At  length,  on  May 
i6th,  1817,  through  the  influence  of  Cardinal  Litta,  this  plan  of 
Domestic  Nomination  was  shelved.  Two  days  later  Father 
Hayes — through  the  influence  of  Lord  Castlereagh — who 
committed  suicide  five  years  later — was  ordered  to  leave  Rome. 
At  that  very  time  he  lay  ill  with  a fever  in  the  Convent  of  St. 
Isidore’s,  but  was  placed  under  arrest  there  on  May  28th,  and 
was  guarded  until  July  i6th,  when  he  was  carried  to  the  frontiers 
of  Tuscany,  whence  he  returned  home,  reaching  Dublin  on 
September  24th. 


On  December  13th,  1817,  Father  Hayes  presented  a detailed 
account  of  his  embassy  to  the  Catholic  Board,  and  handed  in  a 
written  declaration  on  the  whole  affair  at  the  meeting  of  June 
1st,  1818,  at  the  same  time  expressing  perfect  submission  and 
loyalty  to  the  Holy  See. 

Early  in  1819  the  Wexford  Friar  was  offered  the  Schismatical 
See  of  South  Carolina,  but  he  spurned  the  offer,  and  denounced 
the  proceeding  to  Archbishop  Troy.  He  had  the  satisfaction  of 
receiving  a cordial  letter  from  Cardinal  Fontana,  dated  August 
26th,  1819,  expressing  the  deep  satisfaction  which  his  conduct 
had  afforded  the  Pope. 

From  1819  to  1823  Father  Hayes  laboured  most  zealously  as 
a preacher  and  confessor,  and  a volume  of  his  sermons  was 
published  in  1823.  At  the  latter  date  he  was  ordered  imperatively 
by  his  medical  advisers  to  go  to  France  to  recuperate,  and  his 
two  sisters  accompanied  him  to  Paris.  But,  alas  ! climate  and 
medical  aid  were  unavailing,  and  although  he  had  the  advantage 
of  a most  skilled  Irish  physician  (Dr.  Halliday),  the  good  priest 
passed  peacefully  away  on  January  25th,  1824,  and  was  buried  in 
Pere  La  Chaise — where,  not  long  afterwards,  a fine  monument 
with  an  epitaph  describing  his  virtues,  his  learning,  and  his 
patriotism,  was  erected  over  his  remains. 

Very  Rev.  John  Sinnott.  D.D.,  P.P.,  V.G. 

John  Sinnott  was  born  in  the  town  of  Wexford  on  January 
8th,  1790,  and  was  educated  in  Salamanca,  where  he  proceeded 
D.D.,  and  returned  to  Ireland  in  1814.  His  great  learning  was 
so  highly  esteemed  that  Bishop  Ryan  appointed  him  Vice- 
President  and  Professor  of  the  Catholic  Academy  in  Michael 
Street  (off  King  Street),  Wexford,  in  succession  to  Father  Richard 
Hayes,  O.F.M.  Here  he  remained  for  nearly  five  years,  and,  in 
1819,  he  migrated  with  the  staff  and  the  students  to  St.  Peter’s 
College,  where  he  continued  to  win  golden  opinions  by  his 
abilities  as  professor  and  lecturer. 

In  1829,  on  the  promotion  of  Rev.  Dr.  Myles  Murphy  to  the 
pastorate  of  Tintern,  Dr.  Sinnott  was  appointed  President  of  St. 
Peter's  College,  and  he  signalised  his  long  term  of  office — twenty- 
one  years — by  many  material  improvements,  including  the 


199 


beautiful  collegiate  church,  the  handsome  square  tower,  and 
additional  class  rooms.  In  addition  to  his  presidential  duties  he 
was  always  ready  to  preach  on  special  occasions.  His  eloquent 
Lenten  discourses  in  the  Franciscan  Church  (then  the  only  church 
in  Wexford)  attracted  enormous  crowds,  and  were  the  means  of 
many  conversions  to  the  true  Faith.  He  also  indulged  in 
polemic  literature,  and  published  several  pamphlets,  including  a 
very  able  Letter  to  Dr.  Philpotts.  On  the  death  of  Canon 
Corrin  he  was  given  the  vacant  Canonry  of  Ferns,  in  1835. 

Dr.  Sinnott’s  brother.  Rev.  James  Sinnott,  went  out  as  a 
student  to  Newfoundland  with  Bishop  Lambert,  and,  after  his 
ordination,  laboured  there  for  some  years.  On  his  return  he  was 
appointed  P.P.  of  Litter  in  February,  1840,  and  had  a pastorate 
of  twenty-nine  years.  He  died  in  1869,  and,  at  his  own  request, 
was  interred  in  the  Franciscan  Church,  alongside  his  brother. 
Another  brother,  Richard,  was  a merchant  in  Wexford,  and  lived 
in  the  house  in  Main  Street  formerly  occupied  by  Bishop  R3^an. 

On  the  promotion  of  Rev.  Dr.  Myles  Murphy,  P.P.  of  Wexford, 
to  the  See  of  Ferns,  Rev.  Dr.  Sinnott  was  appointed  to  the  vacant 
parish.  This  was  in  April,  1850.  At  that  very  time  Dr.  Sinnott 
was  seriously  ill,  and  he  did  not  live  to  take  possession  of  the 
parish,  as  he  died  on  May  27th,  1850.  His  remains  were  interred 
in  the  Franciscan  Church,  where  the  following  eulogistic  epitaph 
may  be  read  on  a memorial  tablet,  on  which  is  a sculptured 
medallion  portrait : — 

“ Of  your  charitj^  pray  for  the  repose  of  the  soul  of  Very  Rev. 
John  Sinnott,  P.P.  of  Wexford,  V.G.  Dr.  Sinnott  was 
born  in  Wexford,  8th  Januar3%  1790.  At  an  early  age  he 
displayed  talents  of  a superior  order,  which  shone  with 
bright  lustre  in  after  life.  He  for  many  years  filled  with 
great  ability  the  situations  of  Professor  and  President  of 
St.  Peter’s  College.  His  profound  learning  and  zeal  in  the 
cause  of  religion,  and  in  defence  of  the  faith,  his 
reputation  for  eloquence  and  disinterested  patriotism,  his 
constancy  in  friendship,  all  won  for  him  the  tribute  of 
universal  esteem,  and  endeared  him  to  everyone. 

He  was  called  to  his  reward  on  the  27th  Maj^  1850. 

R I.P.” 


200 


Among  still  living  ecclesiastics  who  have  shed  lustre  on  the 
diocese  of  Ferns  are  Very  Rev.  Dr.  William  Fortune  (ordained 
in  1859),  who  was  President  of  All  Hallows  College,  Dublin, 
from  1886  to  1892,  and  who  declined  the  See  of  Sandhurst  in  1874  I 
Very  Rev.  Sylvester  Barry,  the  present  V.G.  of  Sandhurst ; Rev. 
Dr.  Hogan,  S.J.,  author  of  the  Onomasticon  Hiherniciim ; Rev. 
James  A.  Cullen,  S.J.,  the  founder  of  the  Pioneer  Society ; Rev. 
J.  J.  Roche,  O.F.M.,  now  in  his  91st  year  ; Rev.  P.  F.  Kavanagh, 
O.F'.iM.,  the  historian  of  ’98  ; Canon  Lennon,  the  author  of  an 
excellent  Catechism  and  .A.bridgement ; Archdeacon  Doyle, 
author  of  “A  Larger  Catechism  of  Christian  Doctrine”  (1911) ; 
Very  Rev.  T.  J.  Rossiter,  O.F.M.,  Guardian  of  Carrickbeg; 
Rev.  R.  Rossiter,  C.M.,  of  Maynooth  College  ; Canon  Green, 
Monsignor  Howlett,  V.G.  of  Westminster,  Canon  Staples, 
Wicklow,  and  Very  Rev.  N.  C.  Staples,  O.C.C.,  Kildare. 


201 


APPENDICES. 


Appendix  I 


Martyrs  and  Saints  of  the  Diocese  of  Ferns. 


Rev.  Richard  French,  a secular  priest  of  the  diocese  of  Ferns,  was  arrested 
in  January,  1578,  for  exercising  the  office  of  a priest,  and  for  harbouring  P'ather 
Robert  Rochfort,  S.J.  He  was  marched  to  Dublin — compelled  to  walk 
manacled  the  whole  way — and  was  thrown  into  Dublin  Castle  dungeon.  After 
being  tortured  he  was  promised  his  liberty  if  he  would  merely  acknowledge  the 
supremacy  of  Elizabeth,  but  firmly  refused.  After  three  years  he  was  sent  back 
to  Wexford  jail,  where  he  died  a glorious  confessor  of  the  faith,  on  the  5th 
of  May,  1581. 

Matthew  Lambert  (Lamport),  of  Wexford,  died  m odium  fidei,  on  July  ist, 
1581.  When  brought  to  the  block  he  boldly  professed  his  faith  and  died 
joyfully  like  the  martyrs  of  old. 

Robert  Meyler,  Edward  Cheevers,  John  O’Leary,  and  Patrick  Cavanagh, 
were  hanged  at  Wexford,  on  July  15th,  1581,  because  they  had  helped  Father 
Rochfort,  S.J.,  to  escape.  These  four  brave  Wexford  martyrs  were  constant  to 
the  last  and  never  flinched.  (Though  the  name  of  the  last-mentioned  is  given 
in  the  Apostolic  Process  as  “ Canavasius"  or  Canavan,  I feel  fairly  certain  that 
it  is  intended  for  Cavanagh).  Bishop  Rothe  gives  the  name  as  “ Canauasius.” 

Patrick  Hay,  a native  of  Wexford,  on  account  of  his  humanity  in  succouring 
bishops  and  priests,  and  also  in  helping  them  to  voyage  to  Spain  and  France, 
was  brought  a prisoner  to  Dublin  Castle,  where  he  was  treated  so  rigidly  that 
he  died  a confessor  of  the  faith,  in  the  autumn  of  the  year  1581.  He  was  not 
only  a ship  owner  but  was  also  a skilled  sailor.  Bruodin  records  his  death 
under  date  of  November  4th,  1600. 

Rev.  Thady  O’Morchoe  (Murphy),  O.F.M.,  Guardian  of  Enniscorthy,  was 
martyred  by  Sir  Henr}'  \^^allop  on  February  13th,  1583. 

Rev.  John  Lime  (Lyng),  a zealous  secular  priest  of  Wexford,  was  hanged  in 
odium  ddei,  at  Dublin,  on  November  12th,  1610. 

The  name  of  another  Ferns  priest  appears  in  O'Hanlon’s  Lives  of  the  Irish 
Saints,  namely.  Rev.  William  Furlong,  O.Cist.,  (son  of  Alderman  Patrick 
Furlong,  of  Wexford),  who  studied  at  Oxford,  and  then  became  a Cistercian 
monk  in  Spain.  He  returned  to  Ireland  in  1598,  and  laboured  zealously  till  his 
death,  having  received  4,000  heretics  into  the  fold  of  the  true  Church.  King 
James,  hearing  of  the  many  miracles  wrought  by  this  holy  monk,  had  him 
brought  to  Court  and  permitted  him  to  go  back  to  Wexford  and  exercise  his 
ministry.  In  1612  Bishop  Ram  reported  him  to  the  Irish  Government.  Not 
alone  was  he  famed  as  a miracle  worker  but  he  is  .said  to  have  had  the  gift 
of  prophecy.  He  died  on  April  8th,  1616,  and  was  regarded  as  a saint.  O’Hanlon 
has  a short  notice  of  Father  Furlong — wffiom  he  incorrectly  styles  “ White  ” on 
the  assumption  that  his  name  in  religion  was  “ Candidas  ” — under  date  of  Ma3^ 
2nd.  His  remains  w'ere  interred  in  St.  Patrick’s  Church,  Wexford. 

Revv.  Richard  Synnot,  John  Esmond,  Paul  Synnot,  Raymond  Stafford, 
Peter  Stafford,  Didacus  Cheevers,  and  Joseph  Rochford,  seven  Franciscan 
Friars — the  two  latter  being  lay  brothers — were  butchered  by  the  Cromwellians 
on  October  nth,  1649,  as  is  recorded  by  their  contemporary  Franciscan,  Father 
Francis  Stafford. 


204 


\’ery  Rev.  Daniel  O’Brien  (Dean  of  Ferns)  and  Rev.  James  O’Murchoe 
(Murphy)  were  martyred  at  Wexford,  in  odium  ftdei,  on  April  14th,  1655. 

Rev.  Denis  Kelly,  popularly  proclaimed  a saint,  was  born  at  the  mill  of 
Rathmacknee,  in  1770,  and  was  ordained  on  the  Continent  in  1795.  He  spent 
seven  years  on  the  Newfoundland  mission,  but  preferred  an  ascetic  life,  and 
returned  to  Ireland  in  1802.  Having  remained  two  years  in  the  Franciscan 
Convent,  Wexford,  he  decided  to  live  as  a recluse,  and  though  appointed  to  the 
curacy  of  Piercestown,  the  duties  of  which  he  performed  with  the  utmost 
exactness,  he  spent  all  the  time  he  could  afford  in  prayer  and  meditation  in  the 
little  chapel  of  Kilmachree,  built  by  a worthy  Quaker  named  Jacob  Poole,  in 
1797.  After  some  years  the  parishior.ers  fitted  up  the  Vestry  as  a dwelling-house. 
Father  Kelly  consistently  refused  to  accept  any  money,  and  he  fasted  rigorously. 
Owing  to  religious  scruples  he  declined  to  hear  confessions,  but  he  was  most 
assiduous  in  his  ministrations,  and  he  celebrated  Mass  daily.  The  alms  and 
presents  bestowed  on  him  he  gave  to  the  poor,  and  he  was  known  as  “ the 
Holy  Hermit  of  Kilmachree.”  He  died  on  August  21st,  1824,  and  was  buried  in 
the  chapel  of  Kilmachree. 


205 


Appendix  II 


The  Registered  “Popish  Priests''  of  Ferns,  1704. 


County  of  Wexford. 

A list  of  the  names  of  the  Popish  parish  priests,  as  they  were  registered  at 
the  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  held  for  the  said  County  of  Wexford,  at 
Wexford,  the  nth  day  of  July,  1704,  and  were  since  returned  up  to  the  Council 
Office  in  Dublin  pursuant  to  a clause  in  the  late  Act  of  Parliament  intituled 
“ An  Act  for  Registering  the  Popish  Clergy.” 

Popish  priest’s  name — William  Lamport.  Place  of  abode — Lynsystown 
Age— 33.  Parishes  of  which  he  pretends  to  be  Popish  priest— Kilmore,  Kilturk, 
and  Ballymore.  Time  of  his  receiving  Popish  Orders— 28th  September,  1695. 
Place  where  he  received  Orders— Lamore.  Spain.  From  whom  he  received 
Orders— Dr.  Ferdinando  Manuel.  Sureties’  names  that  entered  into  recognisance 
for  such  priest,  according  to  the  said  Act — Dudley  Colclough,  Esq.,of  Moghorry; 
Thomas  Sutton  of  Wexford. 

Priest’s  name— John  O’Connor.  Abode— New  Ross.  Age — 52.  Parish — 
St.  Mary’s,  in  New  Ross.  Ordained— March  17th,  1687.  Where — Arlesham,  near 
Basle,  in  Switzerland.  By  whom — Jasper  Selmorfe,  B.  of  Crysopelis,  suffragan 
to  B.  of  Basil.  Sureties — Richard  Whelan,  New  Ross  ; Ephraim  Huett,  do. 

Priest’s  name  -Robert  Esmond.  Abode— Ballydungan.  Age — 50.  Parish 
— Kilscoran,  Kilrane,  Rosslare,  St.  Michael’s,  Ballybrenane,  Killelane.  Ordained 
—1685.  Where— Nance.  By  whom— Eugennis,  B.  of  Nance.  Sureties — Patrick 
Redmond,  Killegow  ; Philip  Cheevers,  Drynagh. 

Priest’s  name — David  Roch.  Abode— Wexford.  Age  52.  Parish — St. 
Iberius,  St.  Patrick,  St.  Ulock,  St.  Michael,  St.  John  and  St.  Bridget.  Ordained 
— June,  1676.  Where— Angers.  By  whom — Arnold,  B.  of  Anjou.  Sureties— 
Thomas  Sutton,  Wexford  ; Robert  Devereux,  Carrigmanan. 

Priest's  name— John  M'Evoy.  Abode— Newcastle.  Age— 56.  Parish— 
Adamstown.  Clonegeene,  Horetown,  and  Kilgarven.  Ordained — February 
24th,  1674.  Where— 'Vazas,  France.  By  whom — Wm  de  Boyssonade,  Bishop  of 
\’azas.  Sureties— Caesar  Colclough,  Rosegarland  ; Walter  Furlong,  Courtaile. 

Priest’s  name— Richard  Walshe.  Abode— Rathangan.  Age— 47.  Parish 
— Duncormuck,  Killagga,  Ballyconick,  Kilmannan,  Mulrankin,  and  Kilcowen. 
Ordained— September  20th,  1681.  Where— Angers.  By  whom— Henry,  then 
Bishop  of  Angers.  Sureties— Nicholas  Turner,  Inch;  Mark  Redmond, 
Ballintoole. 

Priest’s  name— Richard  Redmond.  Abode— Priesthaggard.  Age— 56. 
Parish— Whitechurch,  Kilmackee,  and  Ballybrassel.  Ordained— 1674.  Where— 
Gant.  By  whom— Bishop  Frensh.  Sureties— Dudley  Colclough,  Mokorry; 
Robert  Devereux,  Carrigmanan. 

Priest’s  name— James  Prendergast.  Abode— Butlerstown.  Age— 60.  Parish 
—Came.  Tacumption,  St.  Iberius,  St.  Margaret’s  and  Sharkmon,  Ordained— 
September  28th,  1670  Where— Orenze,  in  Spain.  By  whom— Baltazor  de  los 
Reynes,  Bishop  of  Orenze.  Sureties— Lawrence  Devereux,  Wexford;  Jamse 
Scallan,  Whitestown. 


206 


Priest’s  name— Daniel  Kavanagh.  Abode — Killowen.  Age — 52.  Parish — 
Killinhugh,  Killmakilloge,  Kiltenil,  Ballyconow,  Tomb  and  Rossminogue. 
Ordained— March  24th,  1674.  Where — Vazas,  France.  By  whom— Wm  de 
Bussen,  Bishop  of  Vazas.  Sureties — John  Walsh,  Monyseed ; Roger  Talbot, 
Ballynegore. 

Priest’s  name — Michael  Downes.  Abode — Ballygarben.  Age — 30.  Parish — 
Don  Brady  and  Owenduffe.  Ordained — December  28th,  1697.  Where— Orenze, 
Spain.  By  whom — Dr.  Francis  Damianus  Cornelio.  Sureties— Murtogh  Bryan, 
Ballyrooture  ; William  Synnott,  Shillegg. 

Priest’s  name — Nicholas  Roch.  Abode— Ballynegore.  Age — 45.  Parish — 
Castlellis,  Killily,  Ballyvalden,  Kilisk,  St.  Nicholas,  Screen,  Ardcavan  and 
Ardcohum,  Ordained — September,  1686.  Where — Lisbon.  By  whom — Don 
Verissimo  de  Alencastre,  Cardinal  Primate  and  Inquisitor  General  of  Portugal. 
Sureties — Patrick  Redmond,  Killegow  ; John  Annesley,  Rosminogue. 

Priest’s  name — Patrick  Rossiter.  Abode — Ballyaghlin.  Age — 73.  Parish — 
Bannowcarrig,  St.  Innoge,  Ambrosetown,  Ballinugly,  Ballymitty  and  Killkaven. 
Ordained — April,  1661.  Where — Sevil,  Spain.  By  whom — Bishop  of  Sevil. 
Sureties— Caesar  Colclough,  Rosegarland  ; Walter  Furlong,  Courtaile. 

Priest’s  name — Theobald  Butler.  Abode — Tiohnocrioh.  Age — 37.  Parish 
— Donoghmore,  Ardennine,  Kilmocris  and  Killenagh.  Ordained — December 
16th,  1694.  Where — Prague,  Bohemia.  By  whom— John  Frederick,  Archbishop 
of  Prague.  Sureties — Dudley  Colclough,  Mocurry  ; Nicholas  Redmond, 
Ballyneamony. 

Priest’s  name — Murtagh  Bearne.  Abode — Lymrick.  Age — 46.  Parish— 
Kilcavan  and  Killnenar.  Ordained — May  26th,  1678.  Where — Louth,  in 
Ireland.  By  whom — Oliver  Plunkett,  Archbishop  of  Armagh.  Sureties — John 
Annesley,  Rossminogue;  Nicholas  Redmond,  Ballyneamony. 

Priest’s  name — Thirlough  Connelan.  Abode— Tinknick.  Age— 60.  Parish 
Milenagh  and  Killemanagh.  Ordained — May,  1672.  Where — Dundalk.  By 
whom — Titular  Bishop  of  Armagh.  Sureties — Patrick  Redmond,  Killegow  ; 
Abraham  Bates,  Garyadin. 

Priest’s  name — John  M'lriall.  Abode — Killesk.  Age — 40.  Parish — Kineagh 
and  St.  Nicholas.  Ordained — December  28th,  1688.  Where — Carnebane.  By 
whom — Dominick  M'Guire,  Primate  of  Armagh.  Sureties — John  Barry, 
Corrynore  ; Patrick  Sutton,  Clonmines. 

Priest’s  name — Nicholas  Doyle.  Abode — Ballyrow.  Age — 50.  Parish — 
Ballyhuskard,  Templeshannon,  Edennine,  Ballyneslaney,  Killmalock,  Kil- 
patrick, Ardtramon,  and  Tikellin.  Ordained — 1683.  Where— Madrid.  By 
whom — Savas  Meling,  the  Pope’s  Nuncio.  Sureties— Robert  Devereux, 
Carrigmanan  ; Nicholas  Turner,  Inch. 

Priest’s  name — Hugh  Shiel.  Abode — Tubbergall.  Age — 50.  Parish — 
Kilcormack,  Kilbride,  Monamoling  and  Clone.  Ordained — 1678.  Where — 
Dunpatrick.  By  whom — Daniel  Mackee,  Titular  Bishop  of  Down  and  Connor. 
Sureties — John  Doyle.  Tomioyle  ; John  Bennett. 

Priest’s  name — Michael  Fitzhenry.  Abode — Sramore.  Age — 43.  Parish — 
Templeshanbo  and  Enniscorthy.  Ordained— March,  1685.  Where — Newstile. 
By  whom — Alencastre,  Card.  Primate  and  Inquisitor  of  Portugal.  Sureties — 
Dudley  Colclough,  Mocorry  ; Roger  Talbot,  Ballynegore. 

Priest's  name— James  M'Conney.  Abode — Newtown.  Age — 57.  Parish-- 
Inch.  Ordained — 1679.  Where — Meath.  By  whom — Patrick. Terrell,  then 
Bishop  of  Clogher.  Sureties — John  Welsh,  Monyseed  ; John  Doyle,  Tomioyle. 

Priest's  name  -Peter  Moloy.  Abode — Garrane.  Age— 33.  Parish — 
Killann.  Oidained — 1693.  Where — Kilkenny.  By  whom— James  Whelan, 
Bishop  of  Ossory.  Sureties — Dudley  Colclough,  Mocorrj" ; Patrick  Keaghoe. 

Priest’s  name — Daniel  Magrane.  Abode — Hook.  Age— 48.  Parish — 
Fethard,  Templetown,  and  Churchtown.  Ordained — 1681.  Where — Trigg, 
County  Galway.  By  whom — Thady,  Clonfertinsis.  Sureties — William  Synnott, 
Denis  Keaghoe,  Curraghtubbin. 

Priest’s  name — Bryan  Maddin.  Abode — Cullenstown.  Age — 50.  Parish — 
Carnagh,  Balliane  and  Killscanlane.  Ordained— 1683.  Where — Cugeen,  County 
Galway.  By  whom— Thady  Keagoe,  Bishop  of  Clonfert.  Sureties — John  Barry, 
Gurramore  ; Phelim  Ryan,  Newbann. 


207 


0 


Priest’s  name— Edanus  Redmond.  Abode — Clonleigh.  Age — 55.  Parish — 
Old  Ross,  Chapel,  Kilegney,  Templeudigan  and  Rossdreet.  Ordained— Sept, 
loth,  1672.  Where— Lisbon,  Portugal.  By  whom — Bishop  of  Martyria.  Sureties 
— Philip  Cheevers,  Drynagh  ; Walter  Furlong,  Courtaile. 

Priest’s  name— Daniel  Doyle.  Abode— .\skamore.  Age — 30.  Parish — 
Carnow.  Ordained — 1700.  Where — Cork.  Bj'  whom — John  Slane,  Titular 
Bishop  of  Cork.  Sureties— John  Doyle,  Tomioyle  ; Robert  Devereux, 
Carrigmanan. 

Priest’s  name— Francis  Esmond.  Abode— Wexford.  Age  33.  Parish— St. 
Peter’s,  Drynagh,  Kildavin  and  Rathaspeck.  Ordained — 1695.  Where — 
Britania.  By  whom — Bishop  of  Nance.  Sureties — Luke  Bryan,  New  Ross  ; 
Thos.  Sutton,  Wexford. 

Priest’s  narhe — Michael  Rossiter.  Abode — Ringheen.  Age— 56.  Parish — 
Killenick,  Rilmacree  and  Rathmacknee.  Ordained — 1672.  Where — Lisbon. 
By  whom— Gabriel  de  Almeida,  Bishop  of  Funchall.  Sureties — Thomas  Sutton, 
Wexford  ; William  Wading,  de  eadem. 

Priest’s  name— Jasper  Devereux.  Abode— Tacumption.  Age— 36,  Parish 
— Tomhaggard  and  Maglasse.  Ordained — April  loth,  1700.  Where — Merida, 
Spain.  By  whom — Anthony  Huazaz,  Bishop  of  Merida.  Sureties — Thomas 
Lennan,  Wexford  ; William  Wading,  de  eadem. 

Prie.st’s  name — Charles  Graham.  Abode — St.  John’s.  Age— 43.  Parish — 
Ballylennan.  Ordained — 1687.  Where — Antwerp,  Flanders.  By  whom — Bishop 
of  Sebastian  Vannulo.  Sureties— Caesar  Colclough,  Rosegarland  ; Luke  Bryan, 
New  Ross. 

Priest’s  name — John  Kelly.  Abode— Monplim  [Munfin],  Age— 49.  Parish 
— Kilrush.  Ordained  — 1680.  Where— Potuert.  France.  By  whom — Bishop  of 
Hyancinthus.  Sureties— Dudley  Colclough,  Mocorry ; William  Doran, 
Cullentrough, 

Priest’s  name— Thady  Grannel.  Abode — Tinkeskin.  Age — 29.  Parish — 
Killancooly.  Ordained — May  7th,  1700.  Where— Cork.  By  whom— John  Sline, 
Titular  Bishop  of  Cork.  Sureties — Patrick  Redmond,  Killegow  ; Nicholas 
Turner,  Inch. 

Priest’s  name — George  Wotton.  Abode— Cooleleig.  Age — 52.  Parish — 
Clonmore,  Ballyhioge,  Killuren,  and  St.  John’s.  Ordained — 1675.  Where — 
Rome.  By  whom — Jasper  Carpenio,  Bishop  and  Vicar  General  of  Rome. 
Sureties — Patrick  Redmond,  Killegow  ; Dudley  Colclough,  Mocorry. 

Priest’s  name — Gregory  Downes.  Abode — Brickstown.  Age— 43.  Parish 
— Taghmon,  Coulstuffe,  and  White-Church.  Ordained— March  loth,  1686. 
Where — Salamanca,  Spain.  By  whom — Oliver  Cumarro,(Bishop  of  Salamanca. 
Sureties -Caesar  Colclough,  Rosegarland  ; Oliver  Colclough,  ^^ocorry. 

Priest’s  name— Mark  Redmond.  Abode— Barntown.  Age — 33.  Parish — 
Kilbride.  Arthandrick,  and  Carrig.  Ordained — June  7th,  1696.  Where — 
Kilkenny.  By  whom — Dr.  Wm.  Daton,  Titular  Bishop  of  Kilkenny.  Sureties 
— Dudley  Colclough,  Mocorry  ; Caesar  Colclough,  Rosegarland. 

County  of  Wicklow, 

Priest’s  name — Murtagh  Brennan.  Abode — Rossbane.  Age — 44.  Parish 
— Kilcommon,  Kilpipe,  Crosspatrick,  Preban,  and  Carnew.  Ordained — 
January  i6th,'i686.  Where— Madrid.  By  whom— MarcellusDurasus,  Archbishop 
of  Chalcedos.  Sureties— Nathaniel  Radshaw,  of  Tinahely  ; Hugh  Byrne,  of 
Gurteen. 

By  order  of  his  Grace,  the  Lord  Lieutenant  and  Council. 

H.  Pulteney,  Dep.  Cler.  Cone.  Priv. 

Dublin  : Printed  by  Andrew  Crook,  Queen’s  Printer,  on  the  Blind  Quay.  1705. 


208 


Appendix  III 


The  Ferns  Chapter  and  Pastors  of 


Henry  Roche,  Dean. 

Gregory  Downes,  Archdeacon. 
William  Devereux,  V.G.,  Chancellor. 
Nicholas  Sweetman,  V.G.,  Treasurer. 
Thomas  Broaders,  Precentor. 


Prebendaries : 

Thomas  Roche 
Joseph  Purcell 
Richard  Devereux 
Martin  Cullen. 


Pastors  : 

John  Grannel 
Tobiah  Butler 
John  Doyle 
Patrick  Walsh 
Edmund  Saunders 
Nicholas  Roche 
Matthe%v  Casey 
Edmund  Murphy 


Stephen  Lamport 
Michael  Downes 
John  Stafford 
Nicholas  Synnott 
James  Nowlan 


James  French 
Owen  Caulfield 
Mark  Redmond 
Martin  Redmond 
Edmond  Redmond 
Michael  Bryan  [O’Brien] 
Daniel  Doyle 
Edward  Dempsey 


*Note.  The  name  Chapter  is  derived  from  the  Latin  capitulum,  the 
“ chapter  ” of  the  rule  book  read  by  the  monks.  In  course  of  time  the  meeting 
at  which  said  rule  was  read  became  known  as  the  Chapter,  and  the  place  of 
meeting  the  Chapter  House.  In  a Cathedral  Chapter  the  members  are  called 
Canons,  whose  function  is  to  assist  the  Bishop  in  the  government  of  the 
Diocese.  Formerly,  the  Archdeacon  was  regarded  as  the  principal  dignitary 
of  the  Chapter,  but  at  the  close  of  the  nth  century  the  Dean,  or  Archpriest, 
was  made  head,  whose  nomination  was  reserved  to  the  Pope.  The  other 
members  of  the  Chapter  are  called  Capitulars  or  Canons.  In  the  diocese  of 
Ferns,  the  creation  of  a Dean,  with  the  consent  of  the  Chapter,  was  confirmed 
by  Pope  Alexander  IV  on  August  4th,  1255,  and  its  constitution  has  been  given 
in  the  Introduction.  By  a decree  of  the  Council  of  Trent  a Canon  Theologian 
was  constituted — also  a Canon  Plenitentiary.  The  present  Chapter  was  re- 
erected by  Bishop  Roche,  in  February,  1632.  This  good  Bishop,  from  his 
Spanish  training,  adopted  the  same  number  of  dignitaries  as  in  Spanish 
Chapters,  and  thus  he  added  Canon  Doctoralis  and  Canon  Lectoralis. 


209 


P 


Appendix  IV 


The  **  French  **  and  **  Roche  ” Burses  at  Louvain. 


On  17th  November,  1676,  Bp.  French  bequeathed  3,600  florins  for  a Burse 
at  Louvain,  to  be  held  by  students  of  Ferns,  preference  to  be  given  to  the 
following  sixfamilies: — French  of  Ballytory  ; Rossiterof  Tomhaggard ; Rossiter 
of  Rathmacknee  ; Browne  of  Mulrankin  ; Devereux  of  Ballymagir  ; Cheevers 
of  Killiane.  This  was  the  origin  of  the  “ French  ” Burse  at  Louvain. 

Letter  of  Rev.  Paul  Roche,  P.P.  of  Wexford,  to  the  Internuncio  at  Brussels, 
describing  the  terms  of  the  foundation  of  a Burse  at  Louvain,  on  May  19th,  1724 
— said  Burse  to  be  in  operation  on  the  death  of  his  uncle  Rev.  David  Roche, 
P.P.  (Note — The  amount  as  realised  in  1727  amounted  to  6,008  florins,  and  the 
Burse  continued  until  the  present  world-war)  ; — 

Eximie  Domine, 

Cum  patruus  meus  apud  me  deposuit  trecentos  et  quinquaginta  libras 
Hybernicas  (£’350  Irish)  ad  fundandam  bursam  Lovanii  pro  educatione 
aliquorum  juvenum  qui  possint  Ecclesiae  et  Patriae  prodesse,  hinc  est  quod 
voto  ipsius  volens  satisfacere,  transmisi  dictas  pecunias,  Ex.  Dom.,  vestraeenixe 
rogans  ut  digneris  quamprimum  dictas  pecunias  applicare  fini  proposito. 

Ne  posthac  aliqua  controversia  circa  collationem  dictae  bursae  penes  me  sit 
collatio  et  dispositio  durante  mea  vita,  imo  et  usufructus  dictae  bursae  si  in 
exilium  missus  sim. 

Post  meum  obitum  jus  collationis  sen  presentationis  sit  in  Parocho 
Wexfordiensi  si  natus  Wexfordiae  ; aliter  jus  collationis  seu  presentationis 
transeat  ad  seniorem  Parochum  in  Baronia  de  Forth,  qui  semper  tenebitur  sibi 
adjungere  unum  alterumve  ex  principalioribus  oppidanis  qui  subscribant 
dictae  collationi  seu  presentationi — aliter  collatio  est  nulla. 

Cum  autem  posset  contingere  quod  aliqui  vendant  dictam  collationem  seu 
presentationem,  et  sic  fiustratur  mens  fundatoris  (qui  absolute  vult  ut  magis 
pii  et  probi  gaudeant  ista  bursa),  statutum  sit  quod  quicumque  comparat  tali 
via  dictam  bursam  sibi,  nullo  modo  sit  admittendus,  et  admissus  expellatur  a 
Provisoribus  Collegii  si  ita  videatur  Praesidi. 

In  conferendo  dictam  bursam  praeferentiam  habeant  consanguinei  (si 
juvenes  bonae  spei)  usque  ad  tertium  gradum  inclusive  ; et  consanguinei  mei 
possunt  frui  dicto  bursa  usque  ad  gradum  Licentiae  in  Theologia  si  sint  idonei. 

Deinde,  nati  Wexfordiae  qui  possunt  Tornaci  vel  alibi  incumbere 
Humanioribus  : tales  ponuntur  per  aliquod  tempus  apud  aliquem  ut  addiscant 
linguam  vernaculam. 

Tertio,  nati  in  Baronia  de  Forth  qui  sicut  sequentes,  tantum  admittantur 
ad  Dialecticam. 

Quarto,  oriundi  ex  Dioce.si  Fernensi  qui  omnestenebanturad  promotionem 
in  artibus. 

Si  antem  contingat  quod  aliquis  sit  post  medium  late,  ut  dicitur,  maneat 
usque  ad  sacerdotium  inclusive,  et  dimittatur. 

Bursarius  a sacerdotio  tenebitur  singulis  anuis  durante  vita  legere  unum 
Sacrum  (sacrificum  Missae)  pro  meo  Patruo  fundatore — Davide  Roche  Parocho 
Wexfordiensi. 

Peractis  studiis  redeat  in  Patriam  ad  laborandum  in  vinea  Domini,  nec 
morabitur  extra  Patriam  ultra  biennium  non  habita  venia  111.  Nun.  Ap.  Brux. 

Bursarius  subjiciatur  omnibus  statutis  et  decretis  Collegii  ; non  tamen 
tenebitur  praestare  juramentum  Missionis  ante  annum  vigesimum,  nisi  sit 
Philosophus  : in  omnibus  studeat  habere  prae  se  gloriam  Dei  et  bonum  Patriae 
quod  est  ardens  desiderium  Patrui  mei  qui  perhumaniter  salutat  Ex.  Dom. 
vestram  mecum  qui  subscribor  admodum  Ex.  Dom.  vestrae. 

Obsequentissimus  servus  ac  filius 

Wexfordiae,  hac  19  Maii,  anno  1724:.  Paulus  Roche. 


210 


Appendix  V 


Bishop  Sweetman^s  Examination  before  the  Privy  Council, 
in  December,  1751. 


On  December  4th,  1751,  Bishop  Svveetman  was  arrested  on  the  absurd  charge 
(made  by  a degraded  priest,  James  Doyle)  of  favouring  the  Pretender  and  other 
treasonable  practices,  and  brought  a prisoner  to  Dublin  Castle.  He  appeared 
before  the  Privy  Council  and  was  examined  on  December  19th,  with  the  result 
that  the  Duke  of  Dorset  ordered  his  immediate  release. 

In  the  Public  Record  Office,  Dublin,  “ the  Examination  of  N.  S.”  will  be 
found,  and  it  has  been  quoted  by  Froude,  who,  however,  assigns  the  date  1745 
to  it,  and  conjectures  that  the  initials  are  incorrect.  Lecky  prints  a good 
summary  of  the  document,  and  rightly  describes  it  as  the  examination  of 
Nicholas  Sweetrnan,  Bishop  of  Ferns. 

Herewith  is  a summary  of  the  “ Examination  of  N.  S.”  ; — 

Was  in  Dublin  at  the  end  of  May,  1751,  for  the  purpose  of  ordaining  eleven 
or  twelve  clerics,  as  Archbishop  Linegar  was  very  feeble.  Transacted  no  other 
business. 

Knows  Father  Synnott  who  is  Parish  Priest  of  Castle  Ellis  and  Vicar 
General  of  Ferns.  Did  not  order  him  to  call  a conference.  Excommunicated 
no  one  but  James  Doyle,  Nicholas  Neville,  and  Nicholas  Collier,  and  one 
Hagan.  The  last  mentioned  practised  physic  without  license. 

Heard  of  no  parish  wards,  or  spies,  or  political  meetings. 

Three  Friars  are  at  Wexford  : Walter  (Thos.)  Paye,  Myles  (Francis) 
Grannell,  and  Hugh  (Thos.)  McDonagh. 

There  are  Franciscans,  Carmelites,  and  Augustinians  : in  all  there  are  six 
Friars  in  the  diocese. 

He  has  two  curates  in  Wexford.  In  his  parish  some  give  him  £s  5s.,  some 
£i  IS.,  and  others  but  6jd.  In  many  parishes  the  priests  only  get  corn  and  other 
small  offerings.  In  Wexford  he  gets  half  the  Sunday  collection,  and  the  priests 
the  other  half ; generally  it  amounts  to  ;(ji6  a year.  There  are  32  parishes  in 
the  diocese.  He  receives  a guinea  each  at  the  distribution  of  oils.  Wexford 
parish  (the  best  in  the  diocese)  is  only  worth  £40  a year,  of  which  one-third 
goes  to  the  coadjutor.  The  other  parishes  are  only  worth  from  £30  to  35  a year. 

There  is  but  one  Jesuit  in  the  diocese,  and  he  has  no  permanent  position. 

The  only  chapel  in  Wexford  is  the  Friary — and  there  is  no  belfry. 

He  was  never  a party  to  recruiting  for  the  Pretender.  The  last  recruiter  he 
heard  of  was  Colonel  Fitzgerald  about  20  years  ago.  Never  knew  Captain 
Sullivan,  who  was  reported  to  have  visited  Michael  Connon,  Parish  Priest  of 
Ferns.  Connon  was  formerly  a married  schoolmaster,  who,  after  the  death  of 
his  wife,  became  a Priest.  Connon  never  wrote  to  him  on  political  matters. 
He  never  had  any  intimation  of  the  Rebellion  of  174.S. 

Has  been  26  years  parish  priest.  Made  Bishop  in  1745.  His  predecessor 
was  Dr.  Walker  (O’Callaghan). 

Corresponds  with  the  Nuncio  at  Brussels  in  regard  to  internal  disputes. 
Applications  to  the  Pope  are  made  through  the  Nuncio,  or  some  friend  on  the 
Continent. 

Was  consecrated  by  Linegar,  Archbishop  of  Dublin.  Linegar  has  no 
coadjutor,  but  he  is  assisted  by  Dr.  Fitzsimon  his  Vicar  General,  and  Mr.  Clinch. 

The  three  Friars  in  Wexford  are  worthy  men.  They  get  half  the  collection, 
and  are  also  helped  by  questing. 

Dorset. 

We  hereby  direct  and  require  you  forthwith  to  discharge  out  of  your 
custody  Nicholas  Sweetrnan.  And  for  so  doing  this  shall  be  your  Warrant. 
Given  21  December,  1751. 

Geo.  Sackvtlle. 

To  James  Butler,  Esq.,  Pro.  Mar.  General. 


2II 


Appendix  VI 


Bishop  Sweetman^s  Visitation  Book, 


**  An  Account  of  the  Visitation  made  of  the  Diocess  of  Ferns 
by  Nicholas  Swectman,  etc.,  in  J753/^ 


1 The  Pastors  are  to  be  examined,  whether  they  serve  their  Flock  diligently; 

teach,  preach,  etc. 

2 Whether  they  keep  their  chapels  and  ornaments  in  good  order ; have  good 

altar  stones.  Books,  etc. 

3 Whether  they  register  their  Christenings  and  Marriages  in  the  books  bought 

for  that  purpose,  etc. 

4 Whether  they  are  edifying  in  their  own  lives  and  conversation,  and  what 

complaints  against  them,  etc. 

5 On  the  day  of  visitation  I am  always  to  dine  at  the  Pastor’s  own  House  as 

frugally  as  he  pleases,  etc. 

6 I am  to  recommend  to  them  a little  decency  in  their  Habitation  and  Dress,  etc. 

1753 

May  ye  ist.  Rev.  Edmd.  Murphy  was  visited  and  the  Sacrament  of  Confirmation 
administered  to  his  Flock.  His  ornaments  were  in  good  order.  But  himself 
discontented  with  many  of  his  Flock,  and  they  so  with  him. 

May  ye  3rd.  The  Rev.  Pat.  Walsh  was  visited,  and  his  people  confirmed.  His 
vestments  found  in  decent  order.  But  himself  negligent  in  instructing 
the  Flock. 

May  ye  6th.  Vnry  Rev.  Nicholas  Synnott,  V.G  1 was  visited,  and  all  things 
were  well. 

May  ye  7th.  It  was  the  same  with  Rev.  Thomas  Furlong,  who  is  careless  in 
exhorting  his  Flock,  as  reported  by  Nicholas  Synnott. 

May  ye  gth.  Rev.  Martin  Cullen  2 was  visited,  etc.,  and  all  was  well  except  his 
'Purificatorium,  w’hich  was  torn  for  its  dirtiness. 

May  ye  14th.  Rev.  Matthew  Casey  3 was  visited,  etc.,  and  had  all  things 
"decent  and  well. 

May  ye  15th.  Rev.  Henry  Masterson^  was  visited,  etc.  His  ornaments  were 
decent  enough,  but  he  was  at  odds  with  his  Flock,  thro'  his  own  fault ; as 
he  built  and  threw  down  chapels  in  his  district ; or  caused  it  to  be  done 
unaccountably  without  the  Ordinary’s  leave ; nay,  applied  to  Protestants 
for  said  purposes  ; and  abused  his  Flock  for  applying  for  justice  to  ye 
Ordinary.  N.B.  The  Ordinary  was  informed  that  said  Masterson  himself 
killed  a lamb  for  the  dinner  he  gave  his  Superior  that  day ; which  was 
very  indecent  and  unbecoming  a clergyman. 


i.P.P.  of  BlicLwater.  2.  P.P.  of  Ballygarret.  3.  P.P.  of  Gorey.  4 P.P.  of  Camolin. 


212 


May  ye  17th.  Rev.  Michael  Kennedy®  was  visited.  His  vestments  were  clean, 
but  one  side  of  the  cup  of  the  Chalice  was  broken,  and  himself  neither 
very  Instructive  or  edifying  to  his  Flock. 

May  ye  20th.  Rev.  Matthew  Redmond**  was  visited,  etc.  His  vestments  were 
very  ordinary,  but  clean  ; and  nothing  can  be  said  in  his  praise. 

May  ye  24th.  Rev.  Philip  Cullen  was  visited,  etc.  His  ornaments  were 
indifferent,  except  his  Alb  was  very  dirty ; and  the  veil  of  the  Chalice 
scandalously  broken  and  ragged ; and  ye  Chalice  itself  very  bad. 

May  ye  27th.  Rev.  Nicholas  Mac  Kennan  was  visited,  etc.  His  vestments  and 
Missal  ordinary  and  indifferent,  and  his  altar  stone  without  consecration  ; 
being  broke  quite  across  ye  middle,  and  covered  with  dirty,  greasy  leather 
and  his  Chalice  scandalous. 

May  ye  28th.  Rev.  Edmond  Dempsey^  was  visited,  etc.  His  ornaments  clean, 
but  his  Chalice  none  of  the  best,  nor  himself  very  zealous  or  diligent  in 
his  Duty. 

May  ye  29th.  Rev.  Pat.  Synnott®  was  visited,  etc.  and  everything  was  very 
decent  and  orderly. 

June  ye  8th.  I confirmed  in  Wexford. 

June  ye  iith.  I confirmed  and  visited  in  Very  Rev.  William  Devereux’s 
parish,®  where  all  things  were  orderly  and  well. 

June  ye  14th.  Confirmation  and  Visitation  were  held  in  Rev.  John  Stafford's 
parish,!  ® and  all  was  well. 

June  ye  15th.  I confirmed  and  visited  in  Rev.  James  French’s  district,!  * and 
found  things  in  order.  Only  Mr.  French  did  not  produce  his  collation  tho’ 
required,  and  there  was  an  ugly  and  disedifying  quarrel  between  William 
Devereux  of  Ring  and  Rev.  John  Walsh,  a man  whom  neither  Religion 
nor  Reason,  nor  Authority  could  e\  er  keep  within  proper  bounds. 

June  ye  i8th.  I confirmed  and  visited  with  Rev.  Richard  Devereux. !**  His 
altar-stone  was  too  small,  and  his  Purificatorium  scandalously  coarse  and 
dirty.  He  promised  they  should  be  so  no  more. 

June  ye  19th.  Rev.  Peter  Devereux!®  was  visited  and  his  People  Confirmed, 
and  all  things  found  in  good  order. 

Juneye2ist.  Rev.  John  Codd!’!  was  visited  and  his  People  confirmed,  and 
nothing  was  found  amiss. 

June  ye  25th.  Rev.  Patrick  Redmond!®  was  visited  and  his  Flock  confirmed. 
Everything  there  was  in  very  decent  order,  and  himself  gave  an  excellent 
discourse  on  ye  Sacrament  of  Confirmation. 

June  ye  26th.  I confirmed  and  visited  in  ye  District  of  Ross  John  Fitzhenryi® 
an  honest,  indolent  man,  who  neither  preaches  nor  teaches  his  Flock. 

July  ye  2nd.  Rev.  William  Doyle*!  was  visited  and  his  Flock  confirmed. 
Everything  found  in  edifying  order,  and  he  gave  an  extraordinary  good 
sermon  on  ye  occasion. 

July  ye  4th.  Rev.  Michael  O’Brien's  Flock* 8 was  visited  and  Confirmed,  and 
he  gave  one  of  ye  best,  if  not  ye  best  Irish  sermon  I ever  heard,  and 
everything  else  was  well ; but  I was  told  he  had  a bad  Chalice. 

July  ye  6th.  I visited  and  confirmed  at  Enniscorthy,  where  Rev.  Michael 
Henrick,  ye  Pastor,  exhorted  in  English,  and  everything  was  well ; and  ye 
Pastor  a genteel,  well-spirited  man. 

July  ye  8th.  I confirmed  and  visited  at  Bouly-Philip*®  with  Rev.  John 
Grannell,  where  things  were  well,  and  Rev.  Martin  Redmond  gave  a good 
Irish  sermon. 

July  ye  loth.  Rev.  Martin  Redmond  gave  ye  same  discourse  to  his  own  Flock 
at  Garrane'-*"  ; and  I visited  and  Confirmed,  and  eveiything  was  very  well. 

July  ye  12th.  He  gave  it  over  again  to  Rev,  Bryan  Murphy’s  Flock  at 
Rathgarogue,  where  I Confirmed  and  visited  ; but  I was  informed  that  the 
Pastor  minded  Doggs  and  Hunting  more  than  his  flock,  and  also  that  he  did 
not  give  Mass  at  Rathgarogue  on  Holy  Dales. 


5.  P P.  of  Kilrush.  6.  P.P.  of  Litter.  7.  P.P.  of  Kilcormac.  8 P.P.  of  Templeshannon  and  Edermine. 
c.  Rathmacknee.  to.  Rathangan.  ii.  Lady's  Island.  13.  Mayglass.  13.  Kilmote.  14.  Rathangan 
15.  Crossabeg.  t6.  Bannow.  17.  Glynn.  18.  Bree.  19.  Newtownbariy.  20.  Killann. 


213 


July  ye  13th.  Ross^i  was  visited  and  the  People  Confirmed;  and  Rev.  Martin 
Redmond  gave  us  his  sermon  over  again.  The  Rev.  James  Nowlan, 
Pastor,  and  everything  were  as  they  should  be. 

July  ye  i6th.  I visited  and  Confirmed  at  Dunganstown,  in  Rev.  George 
Kehoe’s  District, 2 2 where  Rev.  James  Nowlan  gave  us  a good  Irish 
exhortation.  N.B. — There  was  but  one  candle  to  say  Mass  with,  which  was  cut 
into  two  parts. 

July  ye  19th.  At  Ramsgrange  I confirmed  and  visited,  and  Rev  Thomas 
Broders2  3 gave  a little  explanation  of  ye  Sacrament  of  Confirmation  in 
Irish.  All  things  were  well 

July  ye  20th.  At  Clongeen,  with  Rev.  Bernard  Downes,  who  gave  a good 
English  exhortation  on  ye  occasion. 

July  ye  23rd.  At  Newbawn,  with  Rev.  Lawrence  Doyle,  where  Rev.  Andrew 
Cassin  gave  a sermon  above  ye  capacity  of  ye  auditory,  tho’  intelligible 
exhortations  are  much  wanting  there,  as  Mr.  Doyle  never  gives  any. 


The  following  is  the  sole  entry  in  the  Visitation  Book  of  1758: — 

April  ye  20th,  1758 — At  Wexford  I visited  and  Confirmed,  on  which  occasion  Rev. 
Mr.  Devereux  Keating,  Pastor,  gave  a handsome  exhortation  or  explanation 
of  ye  Sacrament  of  Confirmation ; and  everything  was  done  with 
Diligence  and  edification. 


21.  New  Koss.  22.  Parish  of  Whitcchuich,  23.  P.P.  of  Hook  and  St.  James's. 


214 


Appendix  VII 


Notes  on  Dr.  Rcnehan’s  Lives  of  the  Bishops  of 

Ferns  (1873;. 


By  Edmond  Hore,  Wexford,  1875, 


[Edmond  Hore,  the  writer  of  the  following  Notes  on  Dr.  Renehan’s  Lives  of 
the  Bishops  of  Ferns,  was  born  at  Kisha,  Lady’s  Island,  Co.  Wexford,  in 
December,  1800.  He  entered  the  classical  school  of  .^^r.  James  Fortune,  at 
Ballyfane  Cross,  parish  of  Came,  in  1811,  and  in  September,  1816,  became  a 
student  at  Wexford  Seminary,  continuing  his  studies  at  St.  Peter’s  College 
from  1819  to  1822.  Finding  that  he  had  no  vocation  for  the  priesthood  he 
adopted  journalism  as  a career,  and  became  Editor  of  the  “Wexford 
Independent,’’  contributing  to  its  pages  many  excellent  articles  on  Irish 
history,  archaeology,  and  genealogy  He  died  rather  suddenly  at  Ballingarry, 
Co.  Tipperary,  on  May  15th,  1879,  and  was  buried  at  Kilmachree,  Co.  Wexford]. 

Bishop  Joh.v  Roche. 

The  common  tradition  in  the  Barony  Forth  has  always  claimed  Bishop 
Roche  as  a native,  assigning  as  the  place  of  his  birth  Assaly,  in  the  parish  of 
Killinick.*  A branch  of  the  Roche  family  of  Rochesland  had  long  been 
established  in  that  townland,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  Bishop  was  a 'brother 
of  Thomas  Roche,  of  Assaly,  who  died  on  November  3rd.  1605. 

Bishop  Nicholas  Frenxii. 

A pedigree  of  the  Rossiters  of  Rathmacknee  Castle,  taken  subsequent  to  the 
Bishop’s  death,  states  that  Catherine  Rossiter  was  married  to  John  French  of 
the  illustrious  house  of  Ballytory,  and  became  the  mother  of  the  Most  Rev. 
Dr.  Nicholas  French,  Bishop  of  Ferns.  Likewise,  Margaret  Rossiter  of 
Rathmacknee,  sister  of  Catherine,  married  John  Wadding  of  the  noble  house  of 
Ballycogley,  and  became  mother  of  the  Most  Rev.  Luke  Wadding,  Bishop  of 
Ferns.  The  same  pedigree  states  that  John  Rossiter,  brother  to  Catherine  and 
Margaret,  was  father  of  Most  Rev.  Michael  Rossiter,  Bishop  of  Ferns — showing 
that  Bishop  French,  Bishop  Wadding,  and  Bishop  Rossiter  were  first  cousins. 

Bishop  French  was  elected  a Burgess  to  represent  Wexford  in  the  Catholic 
Confederation  of  Kilkenny,  and  on  his  elevation  to  the  mitre  of  Ferns,  in  1645, 
he  became  one  of  the  most  zealous  members  of  that  remarkable  body.  He  at 
once  won  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  Papal  Nuncio,  Rinuccini.  In  the 
antagonism  between  O'Neill  and  Preston,  the  Bishop  sided  with  the  views  of 
Rinuccini,  and  at  length,  in  December,  1647,  Bishop  P'ronch  and  Sir  Nicholas 
Plunket  were  appointed  to  proceed  to  Rome,  and  to  endeavour  to  obtain  a 
foreign  Protectorate.  The  Nuncio  wrote  as  follows  to  Cardinal  Mazarin,  on 
December  28th,  1647  ; — 

“As  the  Bishop  of  Ferns  and  Sir  Nicholas  Plunket  are  just  the  sort  of  men 
who  desire  to  stand  well  with  everybody,  they  may  make  statements  in  Rome 
which  are  literally  true  but  may  not  assign  the  real  reasons.  The  real  cause  is 
not  the  weakness  of  the  country  but  the  divisions  and  envy  of  rival  parties. 


•As  against  this  view  of  Mr.  Hore's,  there  is  a Memorandum  in  the  RtiJort  on  Irish  Franciscan  MSS 
(igo6),  under  date  of  Feb.  21st,  1626,  in  which  Bishop  Roche  is  stated  to  have  been  “ born  in  Spain,  and 
educated  in  France." 


215 


This  fact  was  so  manifest  that  last  year  when  I led  16,000  infantry  to  Dublin, 
if  the  Leinstermen  had  not  envied  the  army  of  Ulster,  and  Preston  had  not 
thought  more  of  Ormonde  and  Clanricarde  than  of  the  clergy,  the  Confederates 
would  at  this  moment  have  been  masters  of  almost  the  whole  Kingdom,  and 
Religion  would  be  everywhere  re-established.  It  is  the  Ormonde  faction  that  are 
bent  on  the  embassy,  not  to  please  the  people,  but  to  forward  their  own  object,” 

The  Nuncio  took  Bishop  F'rench's  advice  to  retire  to  Duncannon,  and 
spent  there  many  sad  days  watching  anxiously  for  the  arrival  of  the  Dean  of 
Fermo.  Not  long  afterwards,  the  Ormondists  so  far  prevailed  in  the  Council 
that  a truce  with  Ormonde  was  agreed  to,  notwithstanding  the  opposition  of 
the  Nuncio  and  fourteen  prelates.  As  a result,  the  Nuncio  issued  an  Interdict 
against  all  places  in  which  the  truce  would  be  observed,  and  hundreds  of 
Preston's  soldiers  seceded  from  him. 

Matters  never  before  appeared  so  hopeless,  and,  at  daybreak  on  April  27th, 
1648,  Rinuccini  scaled  the  garden  wall  of  his  residence  in  Kilkenny,  and, 
accompanied  by  two  attendants,  proceeded  by  an  unfrequented  road  to 
Maryborough,  where  O’Neill  was  encamped,  and  thence  to  Galway. 

The  most  unaccountable  and  astounding  change  of  front  of  Bishop  French 
at  this  crisis  was  his  not  only  agreeing  to  the  truce  with  Ormonde,  but  the 
fact  that  he  and  his  friend  Sir  N.  Plunkett  were  deputed  by  Ormonde  to  treat 
with  Owen  Roe  O'Neill.  This  proceeding  saddened  the  heart  of  the  Nuncio, 
who,  in  February,  1649,  sailed  from  Galway,  leaving  Ireland  in  a more 
deplorable  condition  than  when  he  landed.  The  Nuncio  fully  believed  that 
the  Bishop  of  Ferns  made  a deal  with  Ormonde,  and  yet  it  seems  extraordinary 
that  any  reconciliation  could  have  taken  place,  for  never  in  after  life  did 
Ormonde  lend  an  ear  to  the  sufferings  and  sorrows  of  the  Bishop.  It  can  only  be 
surmised  that  when  the  wily  Ormonde  got  his  purposes  served  by  a mistaken 
trustfulness,  he  flung  the  Bishop  off  for  ever,  without  a qualm  of  conscience. 

Bishop  French  died  in  exile,  and  lies  buried  in  a foreign  grave.  The 
following  may  be  taken  as  a translation  of  the  long  and  florid  inscription  on 
his  tomb  ; — 

To  God  the  Best,  the  Greatest. 

Stop,  passer-by.  Hear,  Read,  Weep  ! 

Here  lies 

the  most  Illustrious  and  most  Reverend  Prelate 
Nicholas  French, 

the  humble  Bishop  of  Ferns,  in  Ireland ; 

Assistant  of  the  Pope’s  Sacred  Chapel, 

A Councillor  of  the  Supreme  Council  of  Ireland 
Deputed  by  same  on  an  embassy  to  Pope  Innocent  X ; 
one  of  the  most  Illustrious,  Most  Reverend 
of  the  Bishops  of  St,  James’  in  Gallicia, 
of  Paris,  in  France,  and  finally  of 
Ghent  in  Flanders,  the  indefatigable  Coadjutor ; 

A student,  professor.  President  and  Benefactor 
of  the  Irish  College  at  Louvain  : 
the  founder  of  a burse  of  180  florins  a year  in 
perpetuity,  for  distinguished  talents. 

At  length,  for  his  Faith,  in  the  25th  year  of  his 
banishment  from  Friends,  Country,  Diocese,  and  Flock, 
this  exiled  Prelate,  having  undergone  innumerable 
hardships  and  persecutions  for  the  Church  of  God, 
ever  esteemed  and  respected  by  all, 
not  without  grave  loss  to  his  native  land, 
amid  the  sighs  and  tears  of  all  good  men, 
was  laid  beneath  this  marble  stone. 

He  was  truly  a Pontiff  in  Spirit,  an  Angel  in  Word, 

A holy  Priest  in  his  Life. 

He  died  in  Ghent,  the  metropolis  of  Flanders, 
in  the  74th  year  of  his  age,  and  30th  of  his  Episcopate, 
in  the  year  of  the  Incarnation,  1678,  and 
of  the  month  of  August  the  23rd  day. 

216 


The  tomb  of  Bishop  French  is  no  longer  to  be  seen  by  the  Irish  pilgrim 
who  may  visit  the  church  of  St.  Nicholas,  in  Ghent,  for  the  purpose  of  standing 
by  the  grave  of  this  his  distinguished  countryman.  About  the  year  1840,  when 
extensive  repairs  were  necessary,  and  a new  flooring  was  laid  down  in  the 
sanctuary  of  that  church,  the  tomb  of  Bishop  French,  which  was  at  the  right  hand 
of  the  great  attar,  was  entirely  covered  over,  and  nothing  of  it  remains  visible. 

The  old  Castle  of  Ballytory  is  still  in  a habitable  condition.  The  upper 
story  had  been  taken  down  upwards  of  a hundred  years  ago,  and  was  re- 
roofed. It  is  now  (1875)  the  elegant  dwellinghouse  of  Mrs.  Codd,  the  childless 
widow  of  Mr.  Francis  Codd,  and  owner  in  fee  of  the  townland  of  280  acres. 


Bishop  Luke  Wadding. 

There  is  a difference  of  opinion  as  to  whether  Bishop  Wadding  was  born  at 
Ballycogley  or  in  the  town  of  Wexford.  The  family  of  Wadding  was  among 
the  early  colonists  of  Forth  and  Bargy,  and  was  first  settled  at  Ballycogley, 
subsequently  having  Castles  at  Ballyrane  and  in  Wexford  town.  Thomas 
Wadding  was  Sheriff  of  Wexford  in  1383,  while  David  Wadding  and  James 
Wadding  occupied  the  same  position  in  1397  and  1398  respectively.  Nicholas 
Wadding  was  the  last  Prior  of  the  Austin  Friary  of  Clonminesin  1539.  Thomas 
Wadding  was  Mayor  of  Wexford  in  i.i9b.  Richard  Wadding,  '•  a known, 
malicious  Papist,”  was  Mayor  in  1613,  and  was  deprived  for  refusing  the  Oath 
of  Supremacy.  Paul  Wadding  was  Mayor  of  Wexford  in  1646,  Richard 
Wadding  married  Elinor,  daughter  of  John  Rossiter  of  Rathmacknee,  and  had 
a very  numerous  family.  Thomas,  the  eldest,  married  Mar>',  daughter  of  James 
Keating,  of  Baldwinstown  ; Joan  married  Philip  Lambert,  of  Ballyhire ; 
Margaret  married  Nicholas  Codd,  of  Castletown  of  Came  ; Marion  married 
Edward  Sinnott,  of  Garryvadden  : Catherine  married  Richard  \’ale  (Wall)  of 
Wexford  ; Isabella  married 'I'homas  Stafford,  of  Wexford;  Alice  married  Thomas 
Codd,  of  The  Knocks;  Anne  married  Thomas  Sherlock,  of  Bulgan  ; Helen 
died  unmarried.  Of  the  sons,  Luke,  the  second  eldest,  was  Bishop  of  Ferns  ; 
John  became  a merchant  in  Dublin,  and  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Alderman 
Dyce,  of  Drogheda  ; Thomas  became  a merchant  beyond  the  seas  ; and  Peter, 
Paul,  William,  and  Walter  also  died  abroad. 

William  Wadding,  of  Wexford,  was  heir  of  Walter  Roche  mor  of  Barntown 
Castle,  in  1561,  and  died  in  1576.  (Barntown  was  held  by  the  Siniiotts  of 
Ballyharran).  His  son  and  heir,  William,  was  of  age  before  his  father's  death. 
His  will  is  dated  1640.  John  Wadding,  of  Wadding’s  land,  and  owner  of  lands 
in  Barntown,  Ballyhire,  Ballinvillar,  Muchmead,  Wadding’s  Castle  (in  the 
parish  of  St.  Patrick,  Wexford)  and  other  property  in  Wexford,  was  attainted 
for  having  taken  the  oath  of  association  as  a Confederate  Catholic  (administered 
to  him  at  Baldwinstown  by  Rev.  Thomas  Hanlon)  and  his  property  given  to 
Cromwellians.  This  was  confirmed  by  the  worthless  monarch.  Charles  II.,  on 
May  15th,  1663. 

Wadding's  Castle  stood  adjoining  the  church  of  St.  Patrick,  at  the  west 
corner  of  Patrick’s  Lane,  where  it  entered  Peter  Street  (now  Gibson's  Lane). 
Three  small  houses  were  built  on  the  site  of  the  Castle,  part  of  which  was  used 
as  a small  forge,  in  1869,  and  the  site  of  the  “ slate  house”  is  now  a malt  house. 
The  Bishop's  Palace  stood  in  the  same  street— but  on  the  opposite  side,  and 
nearer  Peter's  Gate,  now  Old  Pound — now  occupied  by  Mr.  William  Gibson, 
whose  ancestor  got  the  property  after  Cromwell's  visitation. 

The  Waddings  of  Ballycogley,  Ballyrane,  and  Wexford  were  all  of  the 
same  stock,  and  all  suffered  the  same  fate  as  their  neighbours.  The  name  is 
scarce  now  and  only  among  the  mechanics  and  labouring  classes. 

As  to  the  statement  that  Bishop  Wadding  was  buried  outside  the  Chapel  of 
Wexford,  the  fact  is  that  the  interment  took  place  inside,  in  the  passage  up  the 
centre  of  the  Franciscan  Chapel,  and  level  with  the  floor,  over  which  was  a 
horizontal  slab.  I myself  have  read  the  simple  inscription — the  name,  age,  and 
date  of  death  only.  All  the  tombs  in  the  chapel  were  of  clergymen,  and  they 
have  all  been  covered  over  by  tiling,  in  the  repairs  and  alterations  made  in  the 
chapel  in  1857. 


217 


Bishop  Michael  Rossiter. 

The  constant  and  unanimous  tradition  of  the  people  of  the  Baronies  of 
Forth  and  Bargy  was  that  Dr.  Michael  Rossiter  was  Bishop  of  Ferns  whilst  he 
also  acted  as  Parish  Priest  of  Killinick  and  Rathmacknee,  and  that  he  lies 
buried  with  his  ancestors  in  the  graveyard  of  Rathmacknee.  Not  one  single 
chapel — out  of  45— in  the  baronies  of  Forth  and  Bargy  was  left  unprofaned  and 
plundered  in  the  past  Cromwellian  days,  and  Rev.  Nicholas  Meyler,  P.P.  of 
Tacumshane  and  Tomhaggard,  was  martyred  while  celebrating  Mass,  close  to 
Tacumshane  Lake,  in  Lingstown,  in  the  early  morning  of  Christmas  Day,  1653. 
There  was  no  second  opinion  of  the  identity  of  the  Parish  Priest  of  Rathmacknee 
and  the  Bishop  of  Ferns,  whose  ancestral  Castle  stands  close  by  the  cemetery. 

With  the  exception  of  the  monument  of  the  Whitty  family  of  Ballyteigue 
Castle,  in  the  ruined  church  of  Kilmore,  not  a stone  records  the  name  of  even 
one  of  the  ancient  proprietors.  No  doubt  Bishop  Rossiter,  from  prudent 
motives,  preferred  to  record  himself  as  a simple  Parish  Priest,  just  as 
subsequently  Bishop  Callaghan  generally  passed  as  “ Mr.  A.  Walker.” 

Numerous  notices  of  the  Rossiter  family  of  Rathmacknee  are  to  be  found 
in  official  documents  of  the  13th  to  i6th  century.  Thomas  Rossiter  of 
Rathmacknee  was  born  in  1613,  and  was  one  of  the  Confederates  in  1642. 
Katherine,  his  daughter,  married  James  Rochfort  of  Tagunnan,  in  1639.  This 
Thomas  was  the  father  of  Bishop  Rossiter.  The  name  is  still  prevalent  in  the 
south  of  the  County,  and  some  few  families  rank  as  respectable  and  wealthy 
farmers— such  as  Rossiter  of  Newbawn  ; Rossiter  of  Hilltown,  Ballymore; 
Rossiter  of  Ramstown,  etc.,  but  many  have  become  extinct  since  the  commence- 
ment of  the  19th  century.  I have  never  heard  of  one  of  the  name  a Protestant, 

Bishop  Ambrose  Callaghan. 

Bishop  Callaghan  was  a mysterious  person  to  his  flock,  who  scarcely  knew 
him  except  as  ‘‘  the  Bishop  ” who  came  to  confirm  occasionally,  but  tliey  were 
well  acquainted  with  the  kind  gentleman  Mr.  Walker  who  often  called  to  their 
Parish  Priest.  With  a large  wig  in  the  fashion  of  the  day,  and  different  suits 
of  clothes  according  to  the  season,  he  visited  all  parts  of  the  diocese,  and  was 
an  honoured  guest  in  society.  The  “ gentlemen  ” or  “ landed  proprietors”  of 
the  county  were  all  either  Cromwelliansor  Williamites,  and  they  do  not  appear 
to  have  been  aware  of  the  identity  of  the  Bishop.  As  regards  the  last  resting 
place  of  the  Bishop,  I believe  that  he  was  buried  outside  the  chapel,  in  the 
graveyard,  in  a space  (since  enclosed  with  an  iron  railing)  appropriated  solely 
to  the  brethren  of  the  Franciscan  Order,  where  Most  Rev.  Henry  Hughes, 
Bishop  of  Gibraltar,  was  buried  in  iS — 

Bishop  Nicholas  Sweetman. 

The  family  of  Sweetman  had  only  a few  years  previously  settled  at 
Newbawn,  from  the  County  Kilkenny'.*  The  controversy  of  the  Bishop  with 
the  Franciscans  has  almost  entirely  died  out.  After  the  year  1540  the  expelled 
friars  found  a shelter  among  the  townspeople,  and  a house  in  Back  Street, 
opposite  the  present  Upper  Shambles,  with  a garden  in  the  rere  up  to  the 
Town  Wall,  in  which  is  a deep  well,  with  steps  descending  to  the  water, 
still  called  St.  Francis's  Well.  Here  they  remained  till  1616  w'hen,  under  the 
Guardianship  of  Rev.  John  Sinnott,  they  got  back  their  old  Convent,  and 
repaired  it.  This  they  held  till  Cromwell  converted  it  into  a slaughter-house 
in  October,  1649. 

It  would  seem  that  Bishop  French  lived  for  a time  at  least  in  the 
Franciscan  Friary,  as  is  evident  from  the  following  document  in  1646:  — 
“The  body  of  P'rancis  Talbot,  who  died  an  obstinate  heretic  and  finally 
impenitent,  is  to  be  buried  in  poenani  Hoerisis,  with  only  one  candle  at  the 
grave,  at  9 o’clock,  without  a bell  in  the  church  or  street,  without  priest,  cross, 
book,  or  prayer— the  place  of  his  burial  to  be  in  the  avenue  of  St.  Mary’s 
churchyard,  nearest  the  garden  of  the  parsonage.  All  which  concerning  the 
said  burial,  we  have  ordered  to  be  done  with  the  advice  of  men  learned  in 


•The  family  of  Sweetman  had  settled  m Co.  Wexford  in  the  early  part  of  the  i+th  century.— \V.  H.  G.  F. 


218 


divinity— and  whoso  shall  infringe  such  order  at  the  said  Francis’s  burial  is  to 
incur  the  censures  of  the  Church.  No  wax  taper,  or  candle,  or  torch  is  to  be 
used.  Nicholas,  Eipis.  Fernensis.  Given  at  the  Friar's  Convent,  Dec.  31st,  1646.” 

When  the  laws  of  William  III.  forbade  any  Mass  House  to  exist  xvithin 
any  walled  town  in  Ireland,  the  Franciscan  chapel,  as  it  stood  outside  the 
walls,  became  the  only  place  of  worship  with  the  Catholic  people  of  Wexford, 
and  so  continued  till  1858.  The  Franciscans  now  enjoy  their  convent  (which 
w'as  rebuilt  in  1803)  and  their  church,  which  was  repaired  and  beautified  in 
1837,  having  purchased  the  fee  simple  of  both  in  the  Landed  Estates  Court,  on 
the  sale  of  them  by  the  Geary  family,  the  successors  and  representatives  of  the 
original  Cromwellian  proprietors.  Brigadier  General  Jones. 

Bishop  Sweetman  built  a large,  substantial  residence  on  the  West  side  of 
Back  Street,  between  Mary  Street  and  Patrick’s  church.  It  was  of  brick, 
having  a projecting  band  course  over  the  first  storey.  It  is  now  divided  into 
two  good  dwellings,  having  been  lately  plastered  over. 

Bishop  John  Stafford’s  death  was  not  w'ithout  suspicion  of  foul  play.  He 
was  a descendant  of  the  last  Strongbownian  proprietor  of  Ballymackane 
Castle,  and  was  born  in  1735,  at  Robeen,  a sub-denomination  of  the  townland 
of  Rathangan,  of  which  he  became  P.P.  His  funeral  was  one  of  the  largest 
ever  seen  in  the  baronies  of  Forth  and  Bargy,  and  he  was  interred  at 
Tacumshane.  His  name,  rank,  and  age  alone  were  inscribed  on  a plain 
headstone,  but  a young  man  named  John  Moran  caused  the  following  singular 
epitaph  to  be  carved  by  a local  sculptor,  Andrew  Ronan  : — 

, D.  O.  M. 

Hie  humant  sepultae  mortales 
Reverndis  Dom.  Johanni  Stafforde,  S.  T.  D. 

Oui  vitam  obrepsit  primo  die  Octobus  MDCCLXXXl, 

Itatis  XLVI 

'I'empuscoler  ventefugit 

Haec  monitionem  recipe 
Semper  lethe  cave 
Sors  sepulturam  erit. 

Deus  cujus  animam  misere. 


Bishop  James  Caulfield. 

Bishop  Caulfield’s  father  was  from  Co.  Carlow  and  got  married  in  Saltmills 
(parish  of  Tintern)  where  the  future  bishop  was  born.  He  received  his  early 
education  at  a classical  school  kept  nominally  by  the  Parish  Minister  but  really 
by  a lay  assistant  piaid  by  the  Colclough  famil}',  and  afterwards  went  to  the 
Continent.  During  his  whole  life  his  health  was  never  robust,  and  at  the  period 
of  the  Rebellion  of  1798  he  could  scarcely  leave  his  residence,  unless  on  most 
urgent  business,  a fact  which  probably  saved  his  life.  He  resided  and  died  in 
the  house  built  in  Back  Street  by  his  predecessor.  Bishop  Sn  eetman,  and  he  was 
buried  in  the  Franciscan  Church. 


Bishop  Patrick  Ryan. 

The  diocese  of  P'erns  was  fortunate  in  the  selection  of  Rev.  Patrick  Ryan, 
P.P.  of  Clontarf  (Dublin)  as  Coadjutor  Bishop.  In  addition  to  great  learning 
and  administrative  ability  Dr.  Ryan  brought  with  him  a promise  of  protection 
from  the  Government,  against  the  dominant  Orange  faction  in  County  Wexford. 
He  made  Enniscorthy  his  mensal  parish,  and  fixed  his  residence  in  rented 
lodgings.  Soon  afterwards  he  made  the  Orange  party — with  their  leader, 
Archibald  Hamilton  Jacob,  J.P.— avow  that  he  had  influence  with  Dublin 
Castle,  and  thus  secured  toleration  for  the  Catholics.  Bishop  Ryan  reformed 
the  clerical  dress  of  the  period,  and  made  an  order  that  all  the  secular  clergy 
should  have  at  least  one  decent  suit  of  black  cloth,  and  appear  in  it  on  every 
Sunday  and  Holy  day.  He  also  adopted  a very  practical  method  of  initiating 


219 


oung  curates  into  social  observances.  The  strict  costume  of  the  clergy  of  these 
days  was  a full  suit  of  black  cloth,  the  coat  long  and  broad  in  the  skirts,  the 
waist-coat  deep  in  the  body  and  close  up  to  the  neck,  showing  a white  neck-tie 
without  any  shirt-collar,  knee-breeches  with  silver  buckles,  and  black  cloth 
gaiters,  sometimes  boots  up  to  the  knee  without  coloured  tops,  although  such 
were  sometimes  worn.  A large  great-coat  of  dark  colour,  and  an  ordinary 
black  hat  completed  the  out-door  dress.  The  great-coat  was  particularly 
necessary,  for  sick-calls  had  to  be  attended  to  in  all  weathers,  both  by  day  and 
by  night.  Every  Parish  Priest  and  every  Curate  necessarily  had  a good  horse 
each,  and  generally  resided  in  different  parts  of  the  parish,  but  some  parishes 
had  no  Curate.  The  present  clerical  costume  did  not  become  prevalent  in  the 
diocese  until  1840. 

Bishop  Ryan  entered  the  lion’s  den  of  Orangeism  and  crushed  its  fell  spirit 
in  its  place  of  strength,  without  ostentation  or  display  of  triumph.  Access  to 
every  part  of  the  diocese  from  Enniscorthy  was  comparatively  easy,  and  this 
gave  him  the  happy  idea  of  making  that  place  the  site  of  a Cathedral  for  the 
diocese  of  Ferns.  The  existing  church  had  no  architectural  pretensions  and 
was  small  in  size  ; and  he  determined  to  erect  a suitable  Temple,  a design 
which  his  worthy  successors,  with  the  aid  of  a generous  people,  have  nobly 
carried  out  in  the  present  beautiful  Cathedral. 

In  181 1 he  planted  the  germ  of  a Diocesan  College — the  “ Wexford  Catholic 
Seminary,”  in  a commodious  house  near  the  ruins  of  St.  Michael’s  Church,  in 
the  Faythe,  with  Rev.  Myles  Murphy  as  President,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Clinch  as 
classical  master.  The  latter  was  replaced,  in  1814,  br'  Rev.  Richard  Hayes, 
O.S.F.,  who  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Sinnott,  in  1816. 

Bishop  Ryan  frequently  visited  the  Seminary,  and  generally  attended  the 
distribution  of  premiums.  He  was  very  strict  and  was  a rigid  disciplinarian. 
In  the  summer  of  1818  he  got  a severe  fit  of  paralysis,  and  was  both  mentally 
and  physically  prostrated.  He  then  removed  from  Enniscorthy  to  Wexford, 
and  took  lodgings  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Thomas  Roche,  grocer,  in  Main  Street, 
the  third  house  south,  on  the  sea-side  from  Anne  Street,  and  therehe  died— not, 
as  Dr.  Renehan  states,  in  Enniscorthy,  on  the  gth  of  March,  i8ig.  Three  days 
afterwards  he  was  interred  in  front  of  the  altar  of  the  Cathedral  of  Enniscorthy. 
As  to  the  fact  of  his  death  occurring  in  lodgings  in  Wexford  I am  certain,  as  I 
was  one  of  two  persons  directed  by  the  President  to  arrange  several  hundred 
volumes  of  his  books  before  they  were  removed  to  St.  Peter's  College. 


Bishop  James  Keating. 

Bishop  Keating  s visits  to  St.  Peter’s  College  were  in  marked  contrast  to 
those  of  Bishop  Ryan,  and  were  a source  of  delight  to  both  pupils  and 
professors.  He  was  not  many  months  in  Enniscorthy  when  he  secured  the 
services  of  Welby  Pugin,  and  started  work  on  the  Cathedral,  which  he  had  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  roofed,  and  the  completion  of  the  tower.  I had  the  honour 
and  happiness  of  Dr,  Keating’s  acquaintance,  and  experienced  his  kindness, 
and  I never  can  forget  the  endearing  sweetness  of  his  sparkling  eyes,  radiant 
countenance,  winning,  impressive,  fraternal  manner,  which  dispelled  at  once 
timidity,  and  won  the  love  and  confidence  of  the  soul.  He  was  truly  a rare, 
good  man. 


Bishop  Myles  Murphy. 

The  school  to  which  Dr.  Murphy  and  his  brother  went  in  their  youth  in 
Gibson’s  Lane,  Wexford,  was  conducted  by  two  Franciscan  Friars,  both  Barony 
Forth  men,  Rev.  Patrick  Lambert  and  Rev.  Thomas  Scallan.  When  Dr.  Murphy 
was  recalled  from  Maynooth  College,  and  placed  over  the  new  “ Catholic 
Seminary,”  he  applied  himself  zealously  to  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 
Although  an  excellent  classical  scholar  he  preferred  to  teach  Mathematics  and 
Church  History.  On  every  Saturday  he  gave  an  impromptu  lecture  on  Morals 
and  Religion.  I had  the  happiness  to  come  under  his  care  in  September,  1816. 


220 


Of  the  buildings  of  the  “ Old  Seminary  ” nothing  now  remains  but  the 
Schoolroom,  converted  into  four  dwelling  houses,  with  an  entrance  leading 
from  King  Street  and  to  the  garden  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  over  Bishopswater 
stream.  The  entrance  to  the  Seminary  was  from  Michael  Street,  then  better 
known  as  “ Bunker’s  Hill,”  and  opposite  the  high  sandy  graveyard  of  St. 
Michael  of  the  Faythe,  an  old  Irish  word  signifying  a level  space  on  which 
games  and  sports  were  played,  known  as  the  Games  of  Carman.  Upper 
King  Street  with  its  houses  on  the  west  side  and  the  large  corn  store  erected  by 
Alderman  Robert  Stafford,  in  1870,  now  cover  the  old  playground  of  the 
Seminary. 

When,  in  1819,  the  spacious  square  dwelling-house  of  St.  Peter’s  College 
was  erected,  with  the  large  Dormitory  of  the  Schoolroom,  Dr.  Murphy  and  Rev. 
John  Sinnott,  with  two  assistants,  moved  into  it.  Here  an  incident  occurred 
which  shows  how  the  most  enlightened  minds  can  be  terrified  by  the  sublime 
works  of  God  as  manifested  in  a thunder  storm.  On  the  4th  of  June,  1822,  a 
sudden  and  tremendous  thunder  storm  from  the  south-west  burst  over  Wexford 
about  10  o’clock  in  the  morning.  The  lightning  flashed  fiercely  and  the  rain 
fell  in  torrents  for  three  hours,  whilst  the  air  was  a dead  calm,  and  darkness 
covered  the  land.  Dr.  Murphy,  perhaps  affected  in  a particular  manner  from 
the  very  full  and  prominent  shape  of  his  large,  light-blue  eyeballs,  was  unable 
to  stand  the  effects  of  the  blazing  sky  and  deluge-like  rain,  and  he  ran  down 
to  the  basement  into  a coal  vault.  The  water  flowed  into  the  coal  vault 
and  soon  reached  almost  to  Dr.  Murphy’s  breast,  but  subsided  at  i o’clock, 
whereupon  the  Bishop  emerged,  and  ascended  to  the  hall,  none  the  worse  of 
his  precarious  position. 

At  length,  in  1831,  Dr.  Murphy  was  made  P.P.  of  Tintern,  and  after  some 
years  was  transferred  to  the  parish  of  Wexford,  vacant  by  the  death  of  the 
venerable  Dr.  John  Corrin.  Whilst  P.P.  of  Wexford  he  built  for  his  own 
residence  the  house  in  Waterloo  Road  now  occupied  by  the  Very  Rev.  Canon 
Roche.  On  the  lamented  death  of  Bishop  Keating,  he  succeeded  to  the  mitre 
of  Ferns. 

Bishop  Murphy  went  to  reside  in  Enniscorthy,  like  his  predecessors.  Dr. 
Ryan  and  Dr.  Keating.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  he  did  not  occupy  the 
comfortable  residence  which  Dr.  Keating  had  built  and  had  so  tastefully  laid 
out,  but  he  feared  the  expense  too  great,  and  he  took  a small  private  house 
nearer  the  Cathedral.  Thus  Bishop  Keating’s  residence  passed  into  other  hands. 

Although  suffering  from  a diseased  larynx.  Bishop  Murphy  was  an  eloquent 
preacher,  and  his  addresses  at  Confirmations  were  lengthy  and  sublime.  A 
Confirmation  was  held  by  him  four  days  before  his  death  at  Litter,  but  after  the 
ceremony  he  went  immediately  to  his  native  home  at  Ballinoulart,  and  died  in 
the  very  room  in  which  he  was  born.  His  death  occurred  on  August  13th,  1856, 
and  he  was  buried  in  his  Cathedral. 

In  the  gentle  and  dignified  manners  of  Drs.  Keating  and  Murphy  there  was 
a striking  likeness — both  alike  impressive  and  attractive— but  in  Dr.  Murphy 
there  w'as  a majestic  aspect  which  rather  awed,  though  never  so  intended,  and 
in  Dr.  Keating  a born  humour  which  Avon  and  carried  away  the  feelings. 


Bishop  Thomas  Furlong. 

Dr.  Renehan’s  statement  as  to  the  date  of  Bishop  F urlong’s  baptism  is  scarcely 
correct,  that  is  “ 1803.”  Doubtless  it  should  be  1800.  My  reason  for  this  is  that 
in  1811,  when  I entered  the  Latin  school  of  Mr.  James  Fortune,  at  Ballyfane 
Cross,  Came,  Thomas  Furlong  w^as  then  a gentle,  intelligent  lad,  reading  the 
third  year’s  book  in  the  classical  course,  and  was  surely  in  his  eleventh  year. 
Before  he  left  Came,  for  the  Seminary,  in  1814,  there  were  21  Latin  pupils  in  the 
school,  ten  of  whom  have  since  died  Curates  or  Parish  Priests,  but  of  the  entire 
number  the  only  survivors  in  1875  are  tAvo— Bishop  Furlong  and  myself. 

The  same  gentle,  timid,  and  studious  manners  marked  Dr.  Furlong  from 
early  days,  and  through  his  long  sojourn  at  Maynooth,  from  1819  to  1857.  Dr. 
Keating  warmly  appreciated  the  zeal,  the  abilities,  and  piety  of  the  Maynooth 
Professor,  and  offered  him  a Parish,  but  the  Professor  felt  the  seclusion  of 


221 


College  life  more  congenial,  and  gratefully  declined  the  offer.  When  the 
diocese  of  Ferns  was  unexpectedly  left  vacant  in  1856,  by  the  death  of  Bishop 
Murphy,  the  eyes  of  the  clergy  unanimously  turned  to  the  esteemed  Professor  of 
Theology  in  Maynooth.  To  the  great  satisfaction  of  all  he  responded  with 
humility  to  their  call  as  that  of  God,  and  he  was  consecrated  on  March 
22nd,  1857. 

Bishop  Furlong  entered  at  once  on  the  active  discharge  of  his  duties,  and 
unobtrusively  effected  several  reformations  especially  in  regard  to  Intemperance 
and  the  Desecration  of  the  Sabbath  and  Holydays.  He  put  an  end  to  the 
holding  of  Fairs  or  Markets  on  Holydays,  and  thus  throughout  the  Co.Wexford 
in  which  22  Fairs  are  held  eveiy  year,  not  one  is  now  held  on  a Holyday.  And 
alt  this  was  effected  solely  by  the  wilt  of  the  people  on  the  advice  of  their  bishop 
and  clergy.  But  not  alone  was  all  traffic  abolished  on  days  set  apart  to  the 
service  of  God,  but  all  shops  were  also  closed  on  these  days — business  houses  as 
well  as  public-houses,  even  in  the  populous  towns  of  Wexford,  New  Ross, 
Enniscorthy  and  Gorey. 

Dr.  Furlong,  in  addition  to  his  herculean  efforts  on  behalf  of  Temperance 
and  the  due  observance  of  Holydays,  extended  his  zeal  to  educational  matters, 
and  gave  every  encouragement  to  the  Christian  Brothers  and  the  various 
religious  Sisterhoods  engaged  in  the  training  of  the  young.  A Divinity  class 
has  been  opened  in  St.  Peter’s  College,  where  Dr.  Furlong  resides  and  of  which 
he  acts  as  President.  He  also  introduced  the  Sisters  of  Reparation  (the  second 
of  the  Order  in  Ireland,  with  a spacious  Chapel  and  Convent  erected  at 
Rockspring,  Wexford) ; the  Sisters  of  St.  Louis  at  Ramsgrange ; and  a Convent 
of  Infirmarian  Nuns  of  the  Order  of  St.  John  of  God. 

Under  his  fostering  care  new  churches  have  been  built,  among  which  those 
of  Lady’s  Island  and  Ifathangan  are  remarkable  for  their  size  and  beauty. 
Religious  Confraternities  of  the  Holy  Family  have  been  formed  in  almost  every 
parish  throughout  the  diocese. 

When  the  Vatican  Council  was  summoned  by  Pope  Pius  IX,  in  1870,  the 
Bishop  of  Ferns,  accompanied  by  Rev.  John  L.  Furlong,  attended  the  whole 
sessions,  in  which  was  passed  the  dogma  of  Infallibility.  He  returned  with 
health  much  better  than  he  had  enjoyed  for  some  years  previously,  and  again 
applied  himself  to  the  espiscopal  duties.  That  sweetness  and  unaffected 
simplicity  which  so  marked  him  in  early  life,  when  he  and  I were  schoolmates, 
remain  still  the  same,  and  ma}^  God  long  preserve  him  ! 


222 


Appendix  VIII 


Appropriations* 

the 


of  Churches  in  the  Diocese  of  Ferns  before 
Dissolution  of  the  Monasteries. 


Duncormack,  Meelnagh,  Castle  Ellis,  Killurin,  St.  John  and  St.  Brigici 
(Wexford),  Hook,  Templetown,  Inch,  St,  Brigid’s  (Taghmon),  belonged  to  the 
Knights  Templars  of  Kilclogan.  These  Knights  also  held  the  tithes  of 
Ballyshelin  or  Chapel  Andrew  (Taghmon).  When  the  Knights  Templars 
were  suppressed,  these  possessions  passed  to  the  Knights  Hospitallers  of 
Kilmainham,  and  hence  in  1347  we  find  Duncormack,  Kilcowanmore,  and 
Clongeen  belonging  to  Kilmainham. 

Killesk,  Clonleigh,  and  Rathroe  belonged  to  Dunbrody  Abbey. 

Clonmines,  Bannow,  Kilcowan,  Kilmore,  Kilturk,  Nash,  Ballygarvan, 
Kinnagh,  Whitechurch,  St.  Mullins  and  Brandan  belonged  toTintern  Abbey. 

Templeshannon,  Kilbride,  and  Ballyhuskard  belonged  to  St.  John’s  Priory, 
Enniscorthy. 

Leskinfere  and  Lady's  Island  belonged  to  Ferns  Abbey. 

Rossdroit,  Templescoby,  and  Edermine  belonged  to  the  Nuns  of  Timolin, 
Co.  Kildare. 

Kilcavan,  Ardcolm,  Ardcavan,  St.  Nicholas,  Selskar,  St.  Clave’s,  St. 
Patrick’s,  Carrig,  St.  Peter’s,  Killiane,  Kilmachree,  Ishartmon,  St.  Ibar's,  St. 
Margaret’s,  Ballynaslaney,  Tikillen,  Killisk,  Ballyvaldon,  were  appropriated  to 
the  Prior  and  Canons  of  Selskar  Priory. 

Killenagh  belonged  to  the  Collegiate  Church  of  Maynooth. 

Rathmacknee  belonged  to  All  Hallows  Priory  (Dublin). 

New  Ross  belonged  to  St.  John’s  Priory,  Kilkenny. 

Ballyvaloo  belonged  to  the  Leper  Hospital,  Wexford. 

Ardamine,  Kilmuckridge,  Killancooly,  and  Kilpatrick  belonged  to 
Glascarrig  Priory. 


•Appropriations,  or  Impropriations,  meant  the  right  of  presentation,  or  the  Advowson,  including 
the  tithes 


223 


Appendix  IX 


Some  Historic  Chalices  in  the  Diocese  of  Ferns. 


The  Kilmore  Chalice  bears  the  following  inscription  Patrick  Keating 
sacerdos  me  fieri  fecit  in  honorem  S.  Patritii  Hiberniae  Apostoli.  Anno 
Dom,  1637,”  A second  Kilmore  Chalice — belonging  to  the  old  parish  church  of 
St.  Patrick,  at  Kilmore — is  dated  1648,  and  was  probablj^  a gift  to  that  church 
by  the  family  of  Whitty,  whose  remarkable  monument  in  Kilmore  church 
(1647)  has  been  previously  alluded  to  under  Kilmore.  This  beautiful  tulip- 
shaped chalice  is  of  silver,  and  measures  inches  in  height,  on  a hexagonal 
base.  The  knob  is  decorated  with  six  quadrangular  bosses,  in  diamond  fashion, 
each  of  which  contained  a jewel,  now  all  disappeared.  On  the  four  sides  of 
the  base  is  the  following  inscription,  but  the  part  of  the  edge  formerly  containing 
the  name  of  the  donor  is  unfortunately  broken  off : — “ Is  qui  me  renouari  fecit 
in  honorem  S.  P.  pro  parochia  de  Kilmore  a.d,  1648." 

The  Meyler  Chalice— formerly  belonging  to  Father  Nicholas  Meyler,  P.P. 
of  Tomhaggard  and  Kilmore,  who  was  martyred  by  the  Cromwellians  on 
Christmas  morning,  1653— bears  a striking  resemblance  to  the  Kilmallock 
chalice,  dated  1639,  and  is  of  beautiful  design  and  workmanship.  It  was 
presented  by  the  late  Archdeacon  Meyler  to  the  chapel  of  Tomhaggard. 

The  Fitzgerald  Chalice— made  for  the  Rev.  Patrick  Fitzgerald,  P.P.  of 
St.  Patrick’s,  Kilkenny,  in  1621 — is  now  the  property  of  the  Rev.  Paul  Kehoe, 
P.P.  of  Cloughbawn.  It  has  a tulip-shaped  cup,  with  a hexagonal  base  with 
plain  fan-shaped  facets,  except  two,  one  of  which  has  an  engraving  of  the 
Crucifixion,  and  the  other  the  name  “ O’Beirne.”  It  stands  6f  inches  in  height, 
and  has  a melon-shaped  knob.  Underneath  the  foot  is  the  following  inscription, 
distributed  on  five  squares: — “ Patricius  FitzGeraldinus,  Pastr.  Ecclesiae  Sti. 
Patricii,  Kilkenniae,  1621.” 

The  Esmonde  Chalice— now  belonging  to  Sir  Thomas  H.  Grattan  Esmonde, 
Bart.,  M.P. — dates  from  1636,  and  is  8 inches  high.  It  is  of  silver,  with  a tulip- 
shaped cup,  and  a hexagonal  base.  The  following  inscription  appears  on  the 
base  : — “•  Orate  pro  anima  Moriarti  Heuerin  sacerdotis  qui  me  fieri  fecit.  Anno 
Domini.  1636. — i.e.,  “ Pray  for  the  soul  of  Murtagh  Heverin,  priest,  who  caused 
me  to  be  made,  1636.”  Evidently  this  chalice  came  from  Co.  Roscommon, 
where  the  Heverin  family  are  still  to  be  found. 

The  Daniel  Chalice — now  preserved  at  St.  Leonard’s,  in  the  parish  of 
Tintern — dates  from  1673,  and  is  8J  inches  high.  It  was  found  at  Clonmines  at 
the  time  that  Canon  John  M.  Browne  was  C.C.  there — (1875-1883).  It  is  of  silver, 
and  has  an  unusually  large  knob,  exquisitely  embossed.  The  base  has  six 
panels,  three  of  which  are  engraved.  This  chalice  bears  the  following 
inscription  : — Ora  pro  Guliel.  Daniel  et  uxore  ejus  Juan,  1637.” — Then  follows  a 
later  inscription  : — Obiit  haec  18  July  1668  ille  vero  31  Mar : Anno.  Dn.  1673.” 

The  New  Ross  Franciscan  Chalice — now  in  the  chapel  of  Ballyfad,  parish 
of  Kilanerin — dates  from  the  second  quarter  of  the  17th  century,  circa  1635.  It 
appears  to  be  of  the  same  date  as  the  Esmonde  chalice,  and  is  of  the  same 
shape.  Around  the  base  is  the  following  inscription: — “To  the  Franciscan 


224 


Convent,  New  Ross.”  The  base  rests  on  a foot,  composed  of  ten  semicircular 
leaves,  on  which  is  the  lettering  (a  word  on  each  leaf) : — “The  gift  of  Richard 
Butler  and  An.  Butler  his  wife."  There  is  also  a fine  chalice  at  Kilanerin 
dated  1713. 

The  CoMERFORD  Chalice — now'  in  Wexford — dates  from  1727.  On  its 
hexagonal  base  is  the  inscription  : — “Ora  pro  P.  F.  Jacobe  Comerford  qui  me 
fieri  fecit  pro  Conventu  FF.  Min.  Kilk.  An.  1727.” 

The  Bannow  Chalice — now'  in  the  possession  of  Very  Rev.  Canon  O’Brien, 
P.P.  of  Adamstown — dates  from  176C,  and  was  made  for  Rev.  John  Fitzhenry 
(Fitzharris),  P.P.  of  Bannow'  from  1751  to  1782.  In  1850  it  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Rev.  Nicholas  Furlong,  P.P.  of  Adamstown,  who,  on  his  retirement,  in  1864, 
retained  the  chalice  at  his  private  residence  at  Ballyclemock.  After  his  death 
it  passed  to  Mr.  Alexander  Roche,  from  whom  it  w'as  acquired  by  Canon 
O’Brien.  It  is  a fine  silver  chalice,  and  bears  the  inscription; — “Hie  calix 
pertinet  ad  Reverendum  Joannem  Fitzharris,  a.d.  1766.” 

The  Lady’s  Island  Chalice  is  inscribed  : — “ AI.  R.  makes  present  of  this 
chalice  in  honour  of  Nativity  of  B.V.,  to  remain  at  Island  for  ever,  1764.” 
There  is  a chalice  in  the  Convent  of  Mercy,  Wexford,  inscribed ; — “Thomas 
Browne,  me  fieri  fecit  1769.  Ora  pro  me.” 

The  Bree  Chalice — now  in  the  Franciscan  Friarj',  Wexford — was  made  in 
1723,  and  was  presented  by  John  Redmond  of  Killygow'an  (parish  of  Oulart)  to 
Father  Francis  Redmond,  O.F.M.,  w'ho  brought  it  w'ith  him  to  Bree  w'hen  giv'en 
charge  of  that  parish  in  1762.  It  bears  the  following  inscription  “ Francisc. 
Conv.,  Wexford.  Pray  for  the  soul  of  John  Redmond  of  Killigow'an,  w'ho 
ordered  this  to  be  made,  Anno.  Domini,  1723,  and  also  for  the  soul  of  Catherine, 
his  wife,  their  posterity,  and  the  Rev.  Francis  Redmond,  the  Donor.” 

There  are  two  pewter  chalices — relics  of  the  Penal  times — in  the  diocese  ; 
one,  belonging  to  Rev.  Robert  Fitzhenry,  Adm„  Enniscorthy,  and  the  other  to 
Rev.  Laurence  Jones,  P.P.  of  Ballygarret.  The  former  was  discovered  right  at 
the  foot  of  Slemish  Mountain  (where  St.  Patrick  herded  sw'ine  as  a slave),  and 
W'as  presented  to  Father  Fitzhenry  by  the  late  Canon  MacMullin,  P.P.  of 
Ballymena.  The  latter  was  discovered  near  Ballygarret,  Co.  Wexford,  in  1909, 
in  the  supposed  grave  of  a priest.  Both  are  of  a primitive  pattern,  and 
evidently  date  from  the  mid-eighteenth  century. 

Although  of  modern  date,  the  Gorey  Chalice  deserves  mention.  It  was 
blessed  by  Pope  Gregory  XVI,  and  w'as  used  by  him  in  offering  up  the  Holy 
Sacrifice,  on  May  30th,  1842,  on  which  occasion  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  sent  his 
special  blessing  to  Sir  Thomas  Esmonde,  to  the  Rev,  P.  Synnott,  P.P.,  and  to 
all  contributors  to  the  new  Catholic  Church  of  Gorey  (see  under  Gorey). 

The  Ramsgrange  Chalice — presented  by  the  late  Canon  Doyle  to  the 
Good  Shepherd  Nuns,  New  Ross,  in  September,  1898— is  inscribed  : — “ Dominus 
Nicholas  Verling*  presbyter  me  fieri  fecit  1604.  Memento  animae  donantis.” 
At  Ramsgrange  there  is  a silver  chalice  presented  to  the  church  by  Rev.  Thomas 
Broaders,  dated  1742. 

The  Augustinian  Friars  of  New  Ross  have  a fine  Chalice  inscribed : — 
“J.  M.  O’Connor,  1756.”  (Probably  Father  Joseph  O’Connor,  O.S.A.)  The 
Sisters  of  Mercy,  New’  Ross,  have  a Ciborium  inscribed  : — “ Pray  for  Mrs,  Alice 
Nangle,  1744.  Moniales  S.  Augustini.”  They  also  have  a chalice  inscribed  ; — 
“ Dr.  Caulfield,  Episcopus  Fernensis,  1793.” 

The  Riverchapel  Chalice  is  inscribed: — “Me  fieri  fecit  R.  W.  Ricardus 
Devereux.  Semel  in  mense  ab  utente  offertur  sacrificium  pro  eo.  1757.” 

The  CLouGnn.AW'N  Ciborium  is  inscribed: — "Judith  Byrne  me  fieri  fecit 
anno  dom.  1788.” 


♦Nicholas  Verling  was  a priest  of  Cloyne,  who  spent  some  time  at  Bordeaux  in  i6oj. 


225 


O 


Appendix  X 


List  of  Bishops  of  Ferns, 


St.  Aedan  (Moedhoc) 

Died 

631 

St.  Mochua  Luachra 

653 

St.  Tuenoc  Mac  Fintan 

663 

St.  Coman 

675 

St.  Maeldoghar 

677 

St.  Diorath 

692 

St.  Moling  Luachra 

697 

St.  Cillene  (Killian) 

714 

Aireachtach  Mac  Cuana  ... 

741 

Breasal  Mac  Colgan 

748 

Reoddaidh 

763 

Dubhinracht  Mac  Fergus  ... 

781 

Cronan 

789 

Finnachta 

799 

Cillene 

«i5 

Finncheallach 

860 

Dermot 

869 

Ferghal 

882 

Lachtnan 

904 

Lynam 

938 

Flathghus 

945 

Cairbre 

966 

Conaing 

977 

Conn  O’Lynam 

996 

Conor  O’Lynam 

1043 

Dermot  O’Rodhachain 

1030 

Murchadh  O’Lynam 

1062 

Ugaire  O’Lynam 

1083 

Cairbre  O’Kearney 

1(^5 

Cellach  O’Colman 

1117 

Maeleoin  O’Donegan 

1123 

Maelisu  O’Cahan 

1135 

Rory  O’Treacy 

1145 

Brighidian  O’Cahan 

1 160 

Joseph  O'Hay 

lesigned 

1185 

Ailbe  O'Molloy,  O.Cist. 

1222-3 

John  St.  John 

1243 

Geoffrey  St.  John 

1238 

Hugh  lie  Lamport  (Lambert) 

1282 

Richard  of  Northampton  ... 

1304 

Simon  Hornsbj'  of  Evesham 

1304 

Robert  Walrand 

1311 

Adam  of  Northampton 

•346 

Hugh  of  Leixlip 

1347 

John  Esmonde 

•348 

resigned 

Died 

Geoffrey  Groffeld,  O.S.A  ...  1348 

VVilliam  Charnels,  O.P.  ...  1362 

'fhomas  Denn  ...  1400 

Patrick  Barrett;  O.S.A.  ...  1415 

Robert  Whitty  ...  1457 

resigned 

John  Purcell  ...  1479 

Lawrence  Neville  ...  1503 

Edmond  Comerford  ...  1509 

• Nicholas  Comyn  ...  1519 

resigned 

(Bp.  Comyn  was  translated  to  Waterford 
and  Lismore). 

John  Purcell,  O.S.A.  ...  1539 

Bernard  O’Donnell  1341 

resigned 

Hubert  ...  1542 

resigned 

Gabriel  de  St.  Sevo  ...  1542 

resigned 

Alex.  Devereux,  O.Cist.  ...  1560 

; (Bishop  Devereux  was  schismatically 
consecrated  in  1339, but  w'as  rehabili- 
tated in  1354). 

Peter  Power  ...  1388 

(Rev.  “James  Walsh,”  whose  real  name 
( was  Daniel  O’Druhan,  was  Vicar 
Apostolic  from  1606-1624). 

John  Roche  ...  1636 

(Rev.  William  Devereux,  V.G.,  was 
Ordinary  of  the  Diocese  from  1636 
to  1643). 

John  Roche  11.  ...  1645 

resigned 

I Nicholas  French  ...  1678 

I Luke  Wadding  ...  1691-2 

I Michael  Rossiter  ...  1709 

I John  Verdon  ...  1728 

.\mbrose  O’Callaghan,  O.F.M.  1744 
I Nicholas  Sweetman  ...  1786 

I James  Caulfield  ...  1814 

Patrick  Ryan  ...  1S19 

James  Keating  ...  1849 

Myles  Murphy  ...  1836 

Thomas  Furlong  ...  1875 

Michael  Warren  ...  1884 

James  Browne,  Quern.  Deus 


diu  incolumem  servet. 


The  longest  episcopate  was  that  of  Bishop  Sweetman,  who  ruled  from  1743 
to  1786 — a period  of  forty-one  years  and  seven  months.  Bishop  Whitty  ruled 
for  thirty-nine  years;  Bishop  O’Molloy  and  Bishop  Denn  for  thirty-seven 
years  each  ; Bishop  Adam  of  Northampton  for  almost  thirty-four  years  ; and 
Bishop  French  for  almost  thirty-three  years. 


226 


Appendix  XI 


Education  for  Ferns  Clerical  Students  in  the  1 7th  and  1 8th 

Centuries. 


As  IS  well  known,  the  Irish  clerical  students  of  the  17th  century— and  of  the 
greater  part  of  the  i8th  century —had  to  prosecute  their  theological  training  on 
the  Continent,  but  in  many  of  the  dioceses  there  were  to  be  found  some  devoted 
schoolmasters — cleric  as  well  as  lay— who  defied  all  the  terrors  of  the  Penal 
Laws,  and  who  instructed  candidates  for  the  Priesthood  as  far  as  Philosophy. 
Not  unfrequently  these  clerics  ere  their  departure  for  the  Continent  were 
ordained  priests,  and  then  w'ere  received  as  Divinity  students  at  Paris, 
Bordeaux,  Douai,  Louvain,  Prague,  Salamanca.  Seville,  Santiago,  Lisbon, 
Lille,  Nantes,  Toulouse — paying  for  their  education  the  sums  derived  from 
honoraria  for  Masses 

From  1590  to  1615  the  most  famous  Catholic  schoolmasters  in  the  diocese 
of  Ferns  were: — Nicholas  Spenser,  William  Devereux,  James  Devereux,  Walter 
French,  Philip  Keating,  Matthew  Roche,  and  John  Power.  Both  William  and 
James  Devereux  are  highly  praised  by  Holinshed  in  his  Chronicles.  Father 
Robert  Rochfort  was  also  famed  as  a schoolmaster. 

The  Irish  College  in  Lisbon  was  founded  by  a priest  of  the  diocese  of  Ferns, 
Father  John  Howling,  S.J.,  in  1593.  Father  Howling  deserves  additional 
notice  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he  compiled  the  first  Irish  Martyrology  of  the 
i6th  century — thus  anticipating  the  work  of  Father  Henry  Fitzsimon,  S.J.,  and 
Father  Stephen  White,  S.J. 

Between  the  years  1593  and  1619  the  following  students  from  Ferns  read 
a course  of  Theology  at  Lisbon  Walter  French,  John  Sinnott,  Richard 
Sinnott,  Barnaby  Dormer,  Thomas  Furlong,  Dermot  Hyland,  Michael 
Rickard,  Richard  Conway,  James  Butler,  Michael  Barrick,  William  Devereux, 
John  Wadding,  Alexander  Devereux,  Piers  Butler,  Peter  Murphy,  Robert 
French,  Patrick  Turner,  William  Butler,  Thomas  Howling,  John  Dormer, 
Patrick  Roche,  Christopher  Cheevers,  John  Sinnott,  and  Richard  Sinnott.  It 
may  be  added  that  Father  Howling,  S.J.,  died  on  January  ist,  1600.  His  fellow- 
Jesuit,  Father  Robert  Rochfort,  a native  of  Co.  W''exford,  died  at  Lisbon  on 
June  19th,  158SI  Rev.  James  Browne  and  Rev.  Michael  Fitzhenry  studied  at 
the  Irish  College,  Lisbon,  in  the  last  quarter  of  the  17th  century. 

The  Irish  College  of  Salamanca  was  founded  by  P'ather  Thomas  White, 
S.J.,  in  1592,  as  El  Real  Golegio  de  San  Patricio  de  Nobles  Irlandeses.  Although 
Father  White  w-as  a native  of  Clonmel,  his  two  fellow-founders  belonged  to  Co. 
Wexford,  namely.  Father  Archer  and  Father  Conway.*  Between  the  years  1600 
and  1790,  the  following  Ferns  students  from  Salamanca  took  the  mission  oath 
to  labour  in  Ireland: — John  Wadding  (1601),  Luke  Bennett  (1607),  John 
Lambert  (1609),  William  Dooley  (1609!,  James  Grannell  (1610;,  Patrick  Hay 
(1613),  Edward  Hore  (1617),  William  Cullen  (1620),  Thomas  Denn  (1629),  Richarcl 
Broaders  (1629),  Matthew  Butler  {1639),  Nicholas  Hore  (1642),  Patrick  Rossiter 
(1650),  Philip  Hore  (1652),  Barnaby  Esmonde  (1652),  Edmund  Murphy  11677), 
William  Lambert  (1693),  James  Parle  (1693',  and  lames  O’Connor  1697).!  Rev. 
James  Brown  was  Rector  from  1705-1708,  James  Redmond,  Thomas  Roche 

•Father  Richard  Conway,  S J.,  who  was  a native  of  New  Ross,  was  appointed  first  Rector  of  thfc  Irish 
College  at  Seville  in  1619. 

■Ham  indebted  to  the  able  article  on  “Students  of  the  Irish  College,  Salamanca,"  by  Rev.  Dr. 
O'Doherty,  in  Archhium  Hibrrnictnn  (Vols.  II.  Ill  and  IV.)  for  the  above  names. 


227 


(1715).  Jasper  Stafford,  Nicholas  Sweetman  (1721),  William  Devereux  (1723), 
J.  R.  Devereux  (1730),  J.  J.  Esmonde  {1730),  Edmund  Keating  (1734),  Patrick 
Redmond  (1736),  James  Codd,  Nicholas  Lovelock  (1736;,  Patrick  Masterson  and 
William  Doyle  (1739);  Peter  Devereux  (1745),  Bernard  Downes  (1750),  John 
Stafford  ( 1757),  Walter  Herron  (1759),  Francis  Byrne  (1764I.  Anthony  Broders 
(1766),  James  Redmond  (1770',  and  George  Murphy  (1789).  Rev.  Jasper  Stafford, 
S.J„  was  Rector  from  1731  to  1743,  and  Rev.  Peter  Synnott  was  Rector  from 
1770-1772. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  students  from  the  diocese  of  Ferns  \vho 
graduated  at  the  University  of  Louvain  : — 

Nicholas  French  (1628),  Patrick  Rozsiter  (1685),  Luke  Wadding  (1695), 
Matthew  Furlong  (1700),  Paul  Roche  (1713L  Hugh  Bryan  (1723),  James  Sinnott 
(1734),  Francis  Redmond  (1735),  Richard  Talbot  (1746),  Andrew  MacCormack 
(1750)  Charles  Breen  (1764),  Mark  Devereux  (1771),  Joseph  B.  Breen  (1775).  John 
Corrin  (1778),  Nicholas  Murphy  (1780),  William  Stafford  (1793). 

In  the  first  fifteen  years  of  the  17th  century  the  following  five  priests  from 
the  diocese  of  Ferns  spent  some  time  at  Bordeaux,  in  the  Irish  College  founded 
there,  in  160;,  by  Father  Dermot  MacCarthy : — Dermot  Hyland,  O.S.A., 
Maurice  Cavanagh,  John  Conway,  Charles  Kavanagh,  and  J.  Dormer.  In  1662 
and  again  in  1673  the  name  of  Peter  Power,  of  Ferns,  appears  as  one  of  the 
officials  of  the  Irish  College,  Paris.  Among  the  Superiors  of  that  institution, 
Rev.  Francis  Devereux,  of  Ferns,  was  Principal  in  1762. 

In  the  Matriculation  List  of  St.  Patrick’s  College,  Maynooth,  from  1795  to 
1799,  the  names  appear  of  the  following  Ferns  students; — William  Stafford 
(1796),  Mark  O’Keeffe  (1796),  Robert  Sinnott  (1796),  Thomas  Aylward  (1797), 
Walter  Meyler  (1799),  James  Prendergast  (1799),  John  Cousins  {1799),  and  Patrick 
Synnott. 


228 


Appendix  XII 


The  Wexford  Priests  of  '98* 


So  much  odium  has  attached  to  the  memory  of  the  gallant  priests  of  ’98,  in 
consequence  of  the  lying  statements  of  Sir  Richard  Musgrave  and  his  copyists, 
that  it  is  only  fair  to  vindicate  their  reputation.  Indeed,  it  is  to  be  regretted 
that  Bishop  Caulfield,  in  an  excess  of  loyalty,  did  not  stand  by  these  devoted 
priests  in  a more  spirited  fashion,  although,  by  a strange  Nemesis,  he  himself 
was  basely  accused  of  disloyalty,  in  1802. 

As  mentioned  in  the  Introduction,  six  of  the  Ferns  clergy  suffered  death 
during  the  Insurrection  of  ’98.  These  were; — Revv.  John  Murphy  ^burned  at 
Tullow),  Michael  Murphy  (killed  at  the  Battle  of  Arklow),  J,  Clinch  (shot  by 
Lord  Roden),  Philip  Roche  (hanged  at  Wexford),  Mogue  Kearns  (hanged  at 
Edenderry),  and  John  Redmond  (hanged  by  Lord  Mountnorris).  To  these 
must  be  added  Father  James  Dixon,  C.C.  of  Crossabeg,  who  was  transported  in 
October,  1799,  after  cruel  treatment  in  prison,  although  his  entire  innocence  was 
testified  to  by  Bishop  Caulfield.  Even  after  his  return,  in  1810,  he  was  again 
subject  to  persecution  at  the  hands  of  Rev.  Thomas  Handcock,  Rector  and 
Prebendary  of  Whitechurch.  However,  it  is  gratifying  to  chronicle  that  Father 
Dixon,  who  was  first  Prefect  Apostolic  of  Australia  (1804-1809),  was  made 
Parish  Priest  of  Crossabeg  in  1819,  and  laboured  till  his  death  on  January  4th, 
1840,  aged  82. 

In  vindication  of  the  above-named  six  priests  I cannot  do  better  than 
reproduce  a beautiful  poem  on  “The  Priests  of  Ninety-Eight”  by  the  late 
Canon  P.  M.  Furlong,  P.P.  of  Taghmon,  Co.  Wexford,  who  contributed  much 
verse  to  the  Nation  in  the  eighties  of  last  century  : — 


THE  PRIESTS  OF  NINETY-EIGHT. 


The  story  of  our  native  land,  from  weary  age  to  age. 

Is  writ  in  blood  and  scalding  tears  on  many  a gloomy  page  ; 

But  darkest,  saddest  page  of  all  is  that  which  tells  the  fate 
Of  Erin’s  noblest  martyr-sons,  the  priests  of  Ninety-Eight. 

Leal  children  of  the  Church  were  they,  her  soldiers  brave  and  true. 

Yet  Irish  hearts  within  their  breasts  were  beating  warmly  too  ; 

For  years  of  patient,  studious  toil,  of  vigil  and  of  prayer. 

Had  never  quenched  the  patriot  fire  which  God  had  kindled  there. 

When  sheltered  by  the  stranger's  hand  among  the  hills  of  Spain, 

Or  where  the  streams  of  sunny  France  roll  rapid  to  the  main. 

Their  fondest  thoughts  in  eager  flight,  where'er  their  feet  might  roam, 
Had  sped  across  the  circling  seas  that  girt  their  island  home — 

Across  the  wide  and  circling  seas  unto  her  emerald  breast 
Had  come  like  weary  ocean  birds  that  seek  a place  of  rest. 

And  back  unto  the  exile’s  home  in  far-off  foreign  clime 
Sweet  mem'ries  of  the  bygone  joys  of  boyhood's  golden  time. 


229 


And  many  an  eve  the  stranger's  halls  re-echoed  Erin's  songs, 

That  told  in  fierce  or  trembling  strain  the  story  of  her  wrongs ; 

And  many  a night  beneath  the  stars  that  lit  the  Southern  skies, 

While  hotly  throbbed  their  loving  hearts  and  big  tears  filled  their  eyes. 
They  mourned  their  country’s  glorious  past,  her  present  woe  and  shame, 
And  prayed  that  brighter  glories  yet  might  gather  round  her  name, 

And  dream’d  of  deeds  that  men  might  do  once  more  upon  her  sod, 
Embattled  in  her  sacred  cause,  for  freedom  and  for  God. 

But  now  again,  their  exile  o'er  they  tread  their  native  land. 

Among  her  leaders  and  her  chiefs  anointed  priests  they  stand  ; 

Anointed  priests  with  priestly  charge,  and  bound  bj'  priestly  vow. 

They  owe  their  isle  a double  meed  of  love  and  duty  now. 

The  love  of  father  for  his  flock  of  helpless  little  ones — 

The  love  a darling  mother  wins  from  true  and  tender  sons — 

A love  that  liveth  to  the  end,  defying  time  and  fate— 

With  such  a love  they  love  their  land,  the  priests  of  Ninety-Eight. 

And  oh  ! how  outraged  is  that  love — what  bitter  pangs  they  feel 
To  see  her  trampled  ruthlessly  beneath  the  tyrant’s  heel  ! 

To  see  her — erst  enthron’d  in  might,  queen  of  the  Western  wave — 

Now  wearing  on  her  royal  limbs  the  fetters  of  a slave  ; 

Crushed  by  a thousand  cruel  wrongs,  a prey  to  mjniad  woes. 

Discrown'd  despoiled,  the  nation’s  scorn,  the  scoff  of  brutal  foes, 

W^ho've  tracked  her  steps  with  hellish  hate  for  many  a long  year  past. 
And  joy  to  think  the  hour  of  doom  has  come  to  her  at  last ; 

To  see  the  tear-stains  on  her  cheeks,  the  dust  upon  her  hair. 

And  o’er  her  wan  and  wasted  face  the  wildness  of  despair. 

The  light  alone  unfaded  yet  that  flashes  in  her  eye. 

To  tell  the  dauntless  soul  within  that  will  not,  cannot  die  ! 

Oh  ! sight  to  torture  loving  eyes  that  look  and  long  in  vain  ! 

Oh  ! sight  to  madden  faithful  hearts  with  cruel  frenzy-pain  ! 

Oh  ! doleful  sight  !— a people  doomed,  a nation’s  agony, 

A land  with  w'oe  and  horror  filled,  from  sea  to  smiling  sea  ! 

The  gory  track  of  tyranny  has  all  her  hills  defiled. 

And  ruin  riots  o'er  the  scenes  where  peace  and  plenty  smiled  ; 

Her  fields  lie  bare  and  desolate,  her  mournful  rivers  moan 
By  blackened  hearths  and  outraged  homes,  and  altars  overthrown. 
Through  hall  and  hamlet  'mid  the  wreck  the  spoiler's  hand  has  made. 
Red  Murder  in  the  name  of  Law  pursues  his  hellish  trade, 

And  day  and  night  the  gibbets  groan,  the  deadly  bullets  rain, 

And  dusty  street  and  bare  hillside  are  piled  with  heaps  of  slain  ! 

The  good  and  true  and  noble  fall,  or  find  a living  tomb. 

Away  from  home  and  friend,  within  the  dungeon’s  lonely  gloom. 

Or  sink  beneath  the  brutal  lash  or  pitch-cap’s  maddening  pang. 

The  prey  of  men  with  tiger  heart  and  worse  than  tiger  fang. 

Like  hunted  wolves  the  people  fly  before  the  hell-hound  rage, 

That  sweeps  the  land  from  North  to  South,  and  spares  nor  sex  nor  age  ; 
And  Britain’s  boasted  banner,  with  its  flaunting  fold,  outwaves 
Above  the  soil  her  despot  rule  has  sown  with  bloody  graves. 

To  Heaven  in  ceaseless  dirge  ascends  the  mother's  wild  despair. 

The  wail  of  sorrowing  wife  and  child,  the  maid’s  unheeded  prayer. 

The  voice  of  vengeful  blood,  that  cries  up  from  the  reeking  sod — 

Ah ! well  may  ache  your  Irish  hearts,  O patient  priests  of  God  ! 

■Well  may  the  fire  of  righteous  wrath  leap  to  your  watching  eyes  ! 

Well  may  you  vow  before  the  God  that  rules  the  earth  and  skies. 

No  more  to  preach  ignoble  peace,  no  more  your  hands  to  hold. 

While  tyrants  waste  your  land  with  war  and  tigers  rend  your  fold  ! 


230 


They  drew  the  old  green  banner  forth  and  flung  it  to  the  light, 

And  Wexford  heard  the  rallying  cry,  and  gathered  in  her  might. 

And  swore  around  uplifted  cross  until  the  latest  breath 
To  follow  where  her  soggarths  led— to  victory  or  death  ! 

The  soggarths  led,  the  pikemen  fought  like  lions  brought  to  bay, 

And  Wexford  proved  her  prowess  well  in  many  a bloody  fray, 

Where  wronged  and  wronger,  foot  to  foot,  in  deadly  grip  were  seen. 

And  England’s  hated  Red  went  down  before  the  Irish  Green. 

And  bravest  of  the  brave  and  true  that  struck  for  Ireland’s  right — 

The  wisest  at  the  council  board,  the  boldest  in  the  fight — 

All  pure  from  stain  or  breath  of  shame,  through  storms  of  strife  and  hate. 
They  bore  the  soggarth’s  honoured  name,  the  priests  of  Ninety-Eight. 
The  sad  end  came  : the  cause  was  lost : the  last  faint  hope  had  fled  : 

Once  more  beneath  the  conqueror’s  yoke  proud  Wexford  bent  her  head — 
Unaided  she  had  dared  his  wrath  and  faced  his  ranks  of  steel. 

Unaided,  though  upon  her  arm  had  hung  the  nation’s  weal. 

Unaided ! Ah,  that  pregnant  word  of  bitterness  and  pain  ! 

Why  slept  the  valiant  of  the  land  while  Wexford  strove  in  vain  ? 

Why  rang  not  out  the  battle-shout  o’er  Ireland  in  that  hour 
When  Wexford  flung  it’s  manhood's  might  against  the  tyrant’s  power? 
The  gallant  men  that  round  her  flag  in  patriot  pride  had  stood. 

The  glow  of  freedom  in  their  eyes  and  pulsing  in  their  blood. 

Had  fought  in  vain,  in  vain  had  struck  their  last  despairing  blow. 

And  died  as  Irishmen  should  die — their  faces  to  the  foe. 

And  o’er  her  soft  and  swelling  vales,  spread  out  by  God’s  right  hand 
To  nurse  as  brave  and  bold  a race  as  ever  blessed  a land. 

And  o’er  her  martyr-memoried  hills,  from  Forth  to  stern  Sliev  Buie, 
Whose  names  shall  shine  as  beacon  lights  on  Wexford’s  history. 

A piteous  wail  of  wild  despair  ran  like  a moaning  wind — 

The  wail  of  widowed,  broken  hearts  whom  death  had  left  behind  ; 

And  shroudless  bones  in  ghastly  heaps  lay  whitening  in  the  sun 
To  tell  the  deeds  of  devilry  the  tyrants  hand  had  done  ! 

But,  oh ! those  priests,  those  noble  priests,  how  sad  a fate  was  theirs  ! 

How  full  the  cup  of  bitterness  the  All-Wise  God  prepares 
For  His  own  chosen  ones  marked  out  in  suffering  and  shame 
Anew  to  consecrate  His  cause  and  glorify  His  name  ! 

Yes,  they  were  soldiers  in  His  cause — the  cause  of  trampled  right — 

His  cause  wherever  o’er  the  world  His  trumpet  calls  to  fight — 

His  cause,  tho’  scorned  of  slavish  men  and  crushed  by  despot  heel — 

The  holiest  cause  that  ever  bared  a fearless  soldier’s  steel. 

Yes  ! they  were  martyrs  for  His  name — for  Him  and  His  they  died — 

Let  cowards  scoff,  and  cynics  sneer,  and  mocking  foes  deride — 

For  it  is  written  large  and  deep  on  many  a gore-stained  sod, 

“Who  dieth  for  God’s  people  he  most  truly  dies  for  God.” 

The  shepherds  lov’d  the  helpless  sheep  of  their  dear  Master’s  fold. 

And  with  their  blood  they  sealed  their  love  as  He  had  done  of  old  ; 

And  all  the  ages  that  have  passed,  and  all  the  years  to  come. 

Can  show  no  purer  love  than  theirs,  no  truer  martyrdom. 

And  radiant  shall  their  memory  live,  though  dark  and  sad  their  doom. 

To  brighten  in  our  history  a page  of  woe  and  gloom — 

A pillar-fire  to  guide  a nation  struggling  to  be  free 
Along  the  thorny,  sunless  path  that  leaas  to  liberty. 

And  whatsoe’er  the  years  may  bring,  however  fortune  range. 

Yet  firmer,  fonder  shall  be  knit,  through  every  chance  and  change, 

'1  he  sacred  ties  which  Heaven  itself  with  tender  care  hath  wove 
To  bind  to  Mother  Ireland’s  heart  the  soggarth  of  her  love. 


231 


And  never  alien  force  or  fraud  that  bond  shall  rend  in  twain  ; 

The  guile  and  wile  of  traitor  friends  shall  menace  it  in  vain  ; 

Ay,  even  tho’  by  traitorous  hands  its  strength  be  tried  once  more, 
Firm  as  the  rock,  ’twill  brave  the  shock,  unbroken  as  of  yore  ! 

O Irish  priests  ! how  proud  and  grand  a heritage  is  yours  ! — 

A priceless  love  that  will  not  die  as  long  as  time  endures — 

A precious  flower  of  matchless  bloom,  whose  perfume  day  by  day 
Will  sweeten  every  toil  and  cross  that  meet  you  on  your  way. 

Oh  ! guard  it  well  against  all  taint  of  foul  decay  and  death. 

Its  holy,  hallowed  beauty  shield  from  every  withering  breath. 

And  fair  and  stainless  hand  it  down  to  those  who’ll  follow  you. 

And  love  it  with  an  equal  love — as  generous,  fond,  and  true. 

And  honour  them — the  martyred  dead— the  fearless,  good,  and  wise — 
Who  for  its  sake  in  evil  days  made  willing  sacrifice 
Of  earthly  hope  and  earthly  joy,  and  dared  the  felon’s  fate 
To  feed  it  with  their  own  heart's  blood — the  priests  of  Ninety-Eight. 


232 


Addenda  et  Corrigenda 


p.  i6 — In  the  Parliamentary  Return  of  1731,  Michael  Cashen  is  given  as  Parish 
Priest  of  “Temple  Shannon  and  Temple  Shamboe.” 

p.  18 — In  the  Parliamentary  Return  of  1731  William  Sutton  is  given  as  P.P.  of 
“ Ballyheoge,”  while  Robert  Sutton  appears  as  P.P.  of  “ Rosdroit” 

p.  29— Line  6.  For  1738  read  172S. 

In  1731  Daniel  Doyle  is  returned  as  “ Popish  Priest  of  Femes  and  Kilbride.” 
He  was  probably  P.P.  from  1728  to  1739.  Rev.  “ C ” Lovelock  (1739-1741)  is 
most  probably  Rev.  Nicholas  Lovelock,  who  studied  in  the  Irish  College, 
Salamanca,  from  1736  to  1738  (Archiv.  Hib.  IV.  29). 

p.  34 — In  1731  Francis  Burn  (Byrne)  was  P.P.  of  Kilrush.  He  was  evidentiv  the 
immediate  predecessor  of  Father  Kennedy. 

p.  38— In  1731  Dudley  Murphy  was  returned  as  P.P.  of  “ Clone.”  This  fills  the 
lacuna  from  1715  to  1740. 

p.  46— In  1731  James  Doyle  appears  as  P.P.  of  “ Edermine."  Father  Doyle 
apparently  laboured  from  1713  to  1746. 

p.  50— Rev.  John  Grannell  was  returned  as  P.P.  of  “ Kilnemanagh  and 
Maolnagh  ” in  1731.  He  held  office  from  1729  to  1739. 

p.  50— Line  5.  For  1729  read  1739. 

p.  52 — In  1731  Rev.  William  Devereux  was  P.P.  of  “ Killann.” 

p.  60— Canon  Rossiter,  P.P.  of  Gorey,  was  transferred  to  New  Ross  on  January 
23rd,  1916,  and  was  succeeded  by  Canon  Lennon,  transferred  from 
Rathangan. 

p.  62 — Rev.  Philip  Furlong  was  returned,  in  1731,  as  P.P.  of  “ Kilcommon,” 
with  Rev.  M.  Collier  as  assistant.  He  also  appears  as  P.P.  of  Carnew. 

p.  65 — In  1731  Rev.  Bryan  Redmond  was  returned  as  P.P.  of  Rossminoge  and 
Leskinfear.” 

p.  68 — The  Parliamentary  Return  of  1731  gives  Rev.  Tobias  Butler  as  P.P.  of 
“ Kiltrisk,”  with  Rev.  Martin  Cullin  as  assistant. 

p.  73 — In  1731  Rev.  Denis  Sinnott  was  returned  as  P.P.  of  “Kilninor,”  while 
Rev.  Nicholas  Sinnot  is  given  as  P.P.  of  “ Killcavan.” 

p.  77 — In  the  Return  for  the  parish  of  “ Monamolin,”  in  1731,  Rev.  Martin  Casey 
appears  as  P.P.,  with  Rev.  John  Doyle  as  assistant. 

p.  87— On  January  23rd,  1916,  Very  Rev.  Walter  (Canon)  Rossiter,  P.P.  of 
Gorey,  was  transferred  to  New  Ross. 

p.  89— From  the  Returns  of  1731,  four  Friars  are  given  at  New  Ross,  namely, 
Revv.  Mark  Delaney,  Joseph  Rossiter,  Martin  Connor,  and  John  White. 

p.  102 — Father  Bryan  Madden,  registered  in  1704,  wasstill  Parish  Priest  in  1731. 

p.  108 — In  1731  Rev.  William  Brennan  appears  as  P.P.  of  “ Whitechurch  and 
Kilmokea.” 

p.  1 13 — Father  Anthony  Broaders  was  ordained  at  Salamanca  on  13th  June, 
1767.  (Archiv.  Hib.  IV.  45). 

p.  1 17 — The  name  of  Father  John  M’lriall  appears  in  the  Return  of  1731  as 
“ McKerrall.” 


233 


R 


]).  ii8 — In  1731  Father  Michael  Downes  is  given  as  P.P.  of  “ Clongeen,  Inch 
and  Kilcowanmore  and  Tintern.” 

]).  127 — Rev  Walter  Herron  was  a student  of  the  Irish  College,  Salamanca, 
from  December,  1758  to  1764. 

p.  133 — In  the  Return  of  1731  live  Friars  are  given,  viz.,  FF.  Pat.  Nolan, 
Matthew  King,  John  Byrne,  Edmund  Murphy,  and  Edward  Saunders, 
p.  141 — Line  15.  P'or  1724  read  1734 

In  the  Return  of  1731  Rev.  William  Lambert  is  given  as  P.P.  of  “Killinick 
and  Moyglass,  ’ while  Rev.  James  French  appears  as  P.P.  of  “ Ishartmon,  etc.” 
Line  17.  For  1725  read  1732. 

p.  159 — In  1731  Rev.  Nicholas  Sweetman  is  given  as  P.P.  of  “ Chappelcarron.” 
It  may  he  added  that  the  parishes  of  “ Kilbride,  Chapelcharon,  and 
Wliitechurch  Glin  ” were  united  by  Act  of  Council  on  14th  December,  1776. 

p.  178— Add Very  Rev.  Canon  Lennon  was  transferred  to  Gorey  on  January 
24th,  1916,  and  was  replaced  by  Rev.  Philip  Doyle  (C.C.  of  Annacurra), 
a week  later. 

p.  181 — The  “ Mass  House”  of  Taghmon  was  built  in  1730. 

p.  187— Add; — Rev.  John  Quigley,  C.C.,  Gorey,  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate 
of  Tagoat  on  January  13th,  1916. 

Note — The  “ Report  on  the  State  of  Popery  in  Ireland,  1731,"  as  regards  the 
diocese  of  Ferns,  will  be  found  in  the  4th  Volume  of  Archivium  Hibernicum, 
edited  by  Canon  MacCaffrey,  Vice-President  of  Maynooth  College  (1915). 


234 


INDEX. 


INDEX 


Page 

Abbey braney  ...  ...  98.  101 

Abbeys:  See  Dunbrody,  Ferns,  and 
Tintern 

Adam  of  Northampton,  Bishop  of 
Ferns  ...  x,  140, 226 

.Adamstown,  parish  of  ...  94-98 
Aireachtach  Mac  Guana,  Bishop  226 
Alcock,  Colonel  ...  19 

Allan,  Hugh,  Protestant  Bishop  of 
Ferns  ...  ...  xiv 

Ambrosetown  149, 144, 145, 176 

Ancayne,  Thomas  de  ...  115 

Annacnrra,  parish  of  ...  62-64 

.A.ppropriations  of  Churches  223 
Archbold,  Rev.  Nicholas.  O.S.l'.C.  138 
Archer,  Rev.  Edward,  S.J.  ...  84 

Archivmm  Hibernicum  ix,  181,227,234 
Ardamine,  Moat  of  ...  7o 

.\rdcandrisk  ...  ...159,161 

Ardcavan  ...  ...152,154 

Ardcolm  ...  ...152  154 

.\rklow.  Battle  of  ...  xx.  51 

Artramont 

Askamorc,  chapel  burned  at 
Aughnagan  Castle 
Aughrim  (Co.  Wicklow) 
iVugustine,  Mother  Mary 
AUGUSTINI.4N  Friaries:  see  Clon- 
MiNF.s  and  New  Ross. 

Aylward,  V.  Rev.  ICdward 

(Canon)  129,  150 
„ Rev.  James  . 25 


156 

XX 

184 

62 

138 


,,  Rev.  Thomas 

228 

Baginbun 

116 

Baldwinstown  Castle 

165 

Ball,  Mother  Tere.sa 

61 

Ballaghkeen  (the  Ballagl.)  .. 

49 

Ballindaggin,  parish  of 

. 15-17 

Ballingley 

144 

Ballingowan,  Moat  of 

51 

Ballyanne,  Baron  of 

104 

Ballybrazil 

108 

Ballybrennan  (Bree) 

. 20,  47 

Ballybrennan  (Tagoat) 

185 

Ballybrittas 

20 

Ballycanew 

. 65,67 

Ballycarney  Castle 

36 

Ballyconnick 

Page 

176 

Ballycullane  ...  118, 

119, 120 

Ballyduff 

. 29,  33 

Ballyfane,  Classical  School  at  221 

Ballyfad,  chapel  of  ...  5, 

8,  73,  74 

Ballygarret,  parish  of 

, 68-70 

Ballygarvan 

108 

Ballyhack  ...  105, 

107,  no 

Ballyhealy  Castle  ... 

165 

Ballyhuskard, 

. 49,  51 

Ballykeeroge  Castle 

108 

Ballyheoge  (see  Bree) 

Bally  lannon 

.144, 148 

Ballymitty 

144,  145 

Ballymackane  Castle 

169 

Ballymore  (Ferns) 

.33 

Ballymore  (see  Mayglass) 
Ballymotey 

11 

Ballymurrin 

XX 

Ballynamona 

XX 

Ballynaslaney 

. 7,  47 

Ballynastragh 

. 60,  75 

Ballyoughter,  parish  of 

. 65-67 

Ballynakill  (Coillthaun) 

17 

Ballyphilip 

15 

Ballyrane  Castle  ... 

142 

Ballyregan 

. 3,  35 

Bally  Sampson 

169 

Ballyteige 

165 

Ballytory  Castle 

169 

Ballytrent,  Rath  of 

169 

Ballyvaldon 

.149,  151 

Bally  valoo 

149 

Ballywilliam 

. 52,  53 

Bannow,  parish  of 
“Bannow”  Chalice 

. 143-148 

225 

Barden,  Ven.  .\rchdeacon  ., 

119 

Bargy  Castle. 

.165,  169 

Barmoney 

. 18,  161 

Barnewail,  Rev.  C.,  O.F.M.  .. 

13 

„ James 

99 

Barntown 

,.159,161 

Barron,  Rev.  Robert,  P.P. 

109,  113 

Barrett,  Most  Rev.  Patrick, 

O.S.A., 

Bishop  of  Ferns 

..  X,  226 

Bargy  Castle 

..  165,169 

Barrick,  Michael 

227 

.,  Rev.  William 

..  XIV,  84 

236 


Page 

Barry,  Rev.  John  (Canon)  P.P.  177 
,,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Bp.  of 

Savannah  193 
„ Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  157 

„ Rev.  Mark,  P.f’.  ...  35,  187 

„ Rev.  -Mother  Gonzaga 

(Loretto)  9, 61 
„ V.  Rev.  Peter  (Canon)  P.P.  25 
„ V.  Rev.  Sylvester,  V.G.  201 

Bartley,  Rev.  Mother  C.  ...  93 

Begerin,  old  Monastery  at  ...  154 

Bennet,  Rev.  Luke...  ...  227 

Blackwater,  parish  of  ...149-151 
Bolger,  Rev.  David,  P.P.  ...  174 

Boolabaun  ..  ...  159 

Boolavogue  ..  ...  xx 

Boolnadrum,  old  church  at  ...  36 

Brandane  ...  ...  143 

Brandubh,  King  of  Leinster...  27 
Brecaun  Church  ...  ...  115 

Breasal  Mac  Colgan,  Bishop  226 
Bree,  parish  of  ...  ...  18-20 

“ Bree”  Chalice  ...  ...  225 

Breen,  Rev.  Charles  . 22S 

„ Joseph  B.  ...  ...  228 

Brennan,  V.  fiev.  W.,  P.P.  ...  86 

Bride’s  Well  ...  ...  151 

„ „ ...  ...  165 

Broaders,  Rev.  Anthony  ...113, 223 
„ V'.  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon)  112 

Browne,  Rev.  Gregory  ...109, 113 
„ Rev.  James  ...  227 

„ Most  Rev.  James,  Bishop 

of  Kilmore  191 
„ Most  Rev.  James,  Bishop 

of  Ferns,  xxiii.  xxiv,  173,  226 
„ V.  Rev.  John  (Canon)  78,106 

„ Rev.  Richard  ...  166 

„ Rev.  Thomas  ...  167 

„ William  (Mulrankin)  166 
Brownrigg,  V.  Rev.  .\braham, 
P.P.  ...  ...  22 


Brownrigg,  Most  Rev.  Dr.,  Bishop  of 


Ossory  ...  ...  194-5 

Brownescastle  ...  ...  184 

Bryan,  Hugh  ...  ...  228 

Buchanan,  Mother  M.  J.  ...  92 

Bulgan  (cm  Aill)  ...  ...  161 

“ Bunkers  Hill  ” ...  ...  134 

Burne  (?  Byrne)  Rev.  Francis,  P.P.  233 
Burrow,  Holy  Well  at  ...  188 

Busher.  Rev.  James  ...  10 

„ Rev.  Thomas,  P.P.  ...  46 

„ V.  Rev.  Thomas,  Dean  of 

Ferns,  V.G  ...  43 

Butler,  Rev.  Balthassar  ...  162 

„ Matthew  ...  ...  227 

„ Piers  ...  ...  227 

„ Rev.  Theobald  (Toby)  P.P.  68 
„ Sir  Toby  ...  ...  35 


Butler,  Col.  Walter 
Butlerstown  Castle 
Buttermilk  Castle... 
Byrne,  V.  Rev.  Canon 
,,  Rev.  Francis 


(2) 


Page 

35 

169 

106 

186 

167 

228 


Cahan,  Rev.  F.,  O.F.M.  ...  13 

Cahill,  V.  Rev.  Canon  ...  142 

Cairn  ...  16, 17 

Cairbre,  Bishop  of  Ferns  ...  226 

Camarossa,  Celtic  Monastery  of  98 
Camolin  (see  Ballyoughter) 
Cannon,  Rev.  Joseph,O.S.A....  89 

Cantock,  R.  Thos.  ...  ...  180 

Capuchins  in  Wexford  ...  138 

Carman,  Fair  of  ...  ...  1.39 

Carmelite  Friary  (see  Clongeen) 
Carmelite  Nuns  (see  New  Ross) 
Carnagh  ...  ...102,  104 

Came  ...  166,169 

Carnew  (see  Tomacork) 

Carney,  Rev.  Hugh  ...  187 

Carr,  Father  ...  ...  58 

Carrigbyrne  ...  ...  97 

Carroll,  Mr.  (benefactor)  ...  136 

.,  Rev.  Thomas,  P.P.  ...  186 

Carrick-on-Bannow  (see  Bannow) 
Carrick-on-Slaney  (see  Glynn) 

Casey,  Rev.  Martin,  P.P.  ...  233 

Casey,  Rev.  Matthew  xviii,  58 

Cashen,  Rev.  Michael,  P.P.  ...  233 

Cassin,  Rev.  Dr.,  S.J.,  P.P.  ..  29,30 

Castle  Annesley  ...  ...  78 

Castleboro  ...  ...  23 

Castlebridge,  parish  of  ...  152-155 
Castlellis  ...  xiv,  49, 51 

Castle  Talbot  ...  ...  151 

Caulfield,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  xix,  85 

„ Rev.  Owen  xviii,  118 

Cavanagh,  Rev.  Andrew  ...  116 

„ Rev.  Maurice  ...  228 

Chalices,  Historic  ...  224-5 

Chapel  ...  ...  21,  22 

Chapelcharon  ...  ...159, 234 

Chapelmidway  ..  ...  121 

Chapman,  Very  Rev.  William,  Dean 

of  Ferns  84,  85,  91 
„ Rev.  George  ...  86 

Chariton,  Rev.  James,  O.F.M.  14 

Charnels,  Most  Rev.  Dr.,  Bishop  of 

Ferns  ...  ...  x,  226 

Churchtown  ...  ...  112 

Cillene,  Bishop  of  Ferns  ...  226 

Cheevers,  Brother  Didacus,  O.F.M. 132 
„ Rev.  Mark,  O.F.M.  132 
„ Rev.  Canon  ...  21 

„ Rev.  Robert  ...  131 

Clearistown  ...  ...162,179 

Clancy,  Rev.  Thomas  ...  142 


237 


Page 


Cleary,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  196 
„ Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  23 

Cliffe  family,  conversion  of  ...  20 

Clinch,  Joseph  (classical  teacher)  134 
„ Father  (’98  fame)  ...  xx 
Clohamon  Castle  ...  ...  36 

Clologue  (chapel) ...  30,  31,  33 

Clolourish  ...  ...  40 

Clondaw  Castle  ...  ...  51 

Clonattin,  Celtic  church  at  ...  57,  60 
Clone  (see  Monageer) 

Cloney,  Rev.  Thomas,  P.P.  ...  115 

„ Rev.  Sylvester,  P.P — 10,  23 
„ „ (2)...  35 

Clongeen,  parish  of  ...  99-101 

Clonleigh  ...  ...  21 

Clonmines  (Grantstown) 

Priory  of  ...  ...  145-6 

Clonmore  (see  Bree) 

Clonroche  ...  ...  23 

Cloughbawn,  parish  of  ...  21-23 

Codd,  Rev.  John,  P.P.  . . 152 

,,  Rev.  John  (2)  ...  177 

„ Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.  ...  177 

,,  Rev.  William,  P.P.  ••.  114 

(2)-  150 

Rev.  Nicholas,  P.P.  ...  39 

Cogley,  Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.  ...  38,  177 
Colclough,  Anthony  ...104,117 

„ Sir  Thomas  ...  104 

Colfer,  V.  Rev.  Canon,  P.P. ...  42 

„ Rev.  F.,  O.F.M.  ...  14 

Collop’s  Well  ...  ...  94,96 

Comerford,  Rev.  James,  P.P.  186 
Rev.  Laurence  ...  38 

„ Most  Rev.  Dr.,  Bishop  xi 
“ Comerford " Chalice  ...  225 

Condon,  Rev.  John,  O.S. A ...  90 

Conaing,  P.P.  of  Ferns  ...  226 

Connellan,  Rev.  Turlogh  ...  49,  207 

Connick,  Rev.  Thomas,  P.P.  39 

,,  Rev.  William  ...  103 

Connon,  Rev.  M.,  P.P.  ...  29 

Conway,  George  ...  ...  99 

„ Patrick,  tomb  of  ...  87 

Coolfancv  ...  63 

CoolhulTCastle  ...  ...  148 

Coolstuff  •••  ...180^181 

Coolycarney  ...  ...  15,16 

Cooney,  Rev.  Mark,  P.P.  ...  186 

„ Rev.  Nicholas,  C.C.  30 

Cooraun  Well  ...  ...  47 

Coppinger,  Rev.  J.,  S.J.  ...  xiv 

Corish,  Rev.  Andrew,  P.P.  ...  163 

„ V.  Rev.  Canon,  P.P.  135 
,,  Rev.  John  P.P.  ...  142 

Corrig  (cemetery)  ...  26 


Corrin,  V.  Rev.  Canon,  P.P.  127.128 


Page 

Corrin  Rev.  William  (1420)  171 

Cosgrave,  V.  Rev.  Canon,  P.P.  47 
Courthoyle  (Court  Howell)  ...  96,  97 
Courtnacuddy  ...  ...  24 

Craan,  chapel  burned  at  ...  xx 
Craanford,  parish  of  ...  71-72 

Crane,  Most  Rev.  Dr.,  O.S. A.  194 
Rev.  John,  O.S. ...  89 

.,  Rev.  John,O.S.A.  (2)  ...  146 

,,  Rev.  David  (1442)  ...  181 

,,  Rev.  Patrick,  O.S.A.  ...  146 

,,  Rev.  Philip,  O.S.A.  89,  90,  91 
„ Rev.  James,  O.S.A.  ...  90 

„ Mother  Evangelist  ...  92 

Cromwell,  massacre  at  Wexford  132 
Cronan,  Bishop  of  Ferns  ...  226 

Crory  (Mass  station)  ...  28 

Crossabeg,  parish  of  . . .156-158 

Crossbridge  (chapel)  ...  63 

Crosspatrick  ...  ...  62 

Crowe,  Rev.  Andrew,  P.P.  ...  142 

Cullen,  Rev.  James  A.,  S.J.  ...  10,201 
„ Rev.  James,  C.C.  . 103 

..  Rev.  Philip,  P.P.  ...  177 

,,  V.  Rev.  Canon  ...  150 

,,  Rev.  Martin  ...  68,233 

,,  Rev.  Edward.  P.P.  ...  42 

Cullenstown  ...  94, 99,  100 

Cumar  na  tri  nU isce  ...  108 

Curracloe  ...  ...  153 

Curtis,  Rev.  Francis,  O.F.M.  13 
Cushinstown,  parish  of  ...102-104 

Dake,  Rev.  James  ...  177 

Dalton,  Mother  Augustine  ...  91,92 
Danescastle  ...  ...  148 

“ Daniel”  Chalice ...  ...  224 

Darcy,  Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.  ...  35 

Davidstown,  parish  of  ...  24-26 

Delaney,  Rev.  Mark,  O.S.A.  233 
Dempsey,  Rev,  David,  P.P.  150 
„ Rev.  Edmond  P.P.,  X, 38, 50, 213 
„ Rev.  Owen  ...  50 

Denn,  Most  Rev.  Dr.,  Bishop 

of  Ferns  ...  ...  x,  226 

Derm ot,  Bishop  of  Ferns  ...  226 

Devereux,  Most  Rev.  Alexander, 
Bishop  of  Ferns  ...  xii 
„ Rev.  William  (1612)  xiv,  xv 
,,  Rev.  William  (1732)  172 

„ Ven.  Peter,  Archdeacon  163 
.,  Most  Rev.  Dr.,  Bishop 

of  Grahamstown  192 
„ John,  1st  Prot.  Bp.  of 

Ferns ...  ...  xiii 

.,  Rev.  Jasper  ...141,208 

„ V.  Rev.  Mark  (Canon) 

P.P.  ...  ...  19 

V.  Rev.  Philip  (Canon) 

P.P.  ...  ...  19 


238 


Page 

Devereux,  Rev.  Francis  ...  228 

Rev.  Mother  ...  8 

Richard  (benefactor)  10 
William  (schoolmaster)227 
James  (schoolmaster)  227 
Rev.  Richard  ...  xviii 
Dixon,  Rev.  James,  P.  A.  xx,  157,  189 
Donaghmore  ...  ...  68, 70 

Donovan,  Rickard  ...  28,  33 

Doonooney 

Doran,  Re\’.  Myles,  P.P.  ...  52 

Dormer,  Barnaby  ...  227 

„ John  ...  ...  227 

Downes,  V.  Rev.  Bernard  (Dean)  118 
„ Rev.  Gregory  181, 208 

„ Rev.  Michael  ...118,234 
Doyle,  V.  Rev.  John  (Canon)  42 
,,  Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  43 

„ Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  23 

„ Rev.  John(Archdeacon)V.F.31 
„ V.  Rev.  Edward  (Canon)  39 
„ Rev.  James  ...  211 

„ Rev.  Daniel,  P.P.  ...  209 

,,  Rev.  J.  (1690),  P.P.  ...  29 

,.  Rev.  David,  P.P.  ...  79 

„ V.  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon)  106 
„ Rev.  Edward,  C.C.  ...  59 

.,  V Rev.  Thomas  (Dean)  97 
,,  Rev.  David  ...  84 

„ Rev.  William,  P.P.  ...  160 

.,  Rev.  Philip,  P.P.  ...  234 

„ Rev.  P.,  C.C.  ...  34 

„ V.  Rev.  Peter  (Canon)  73 
„ Most  Rev.  Dr.  (J.K.L.) 

97,  146,190 


„ Very  Rev.  Luke  (Canon) 

Dowdall,  Rev.  Gregory,  S.J 84 

Drinagh  (see  Piercestown) 

Druhan,  Rev.  Loughlin,  P.P.  80 

Drumgoole,  chapel  burned  at  xx 

Dubhthach,  arch  poet  of  Ireland  60 

Duffrey,  the  ...  ...  11 

Duiske,  Abbey  of  ...  ...  52 

Dunboyke,  Victory  of  ...  27 

Dunbrody,  Abbej-  of  ...  110 

Duncannon  (see  Ramsgrange) 
Duncormack  ...  ...176,179 

Dundrum,  Fort  at  ...  78 

Dunne,  V.  Rev.  John  (Canon)  16 

„ V.  Rev.  John  (Canon)  109 

„ Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  8,  63 

„ Rev.  Martin,  P.P.  ...  1-50 

Dungulph  Castle  ...  ...  116 


Edermine  (see  Oylegate) 

Elrington,  Right  Rev.  (Prot.  Bp.)  xxii 


Ennis,  Rev.  Aidan,  P.P.  ...  141 

„ Rev.  Michael,  P.P.  ...  52,153 

„ Rev.  John,  O.S.A.  ...  146 

Enniscorthy,  parish  of  ...  3-14 


Page 

Esmonde,  Barnaby  ...  227 

„ J.J.  (1730)  ...  228 

„ Most  Rev.  Dr. 

(Bishop)  ...  X,  226 

„ Rev.  Francis,  P.P.  127,208 

„ Rev.  Lawrence,  P.P.  46 

„ Rev.  Robert,  P.P.  186 

„ Lord  ...  ...  74 

„ Sir  Thomas  ...  59,  60 

, .,  Sir  Thos.  H.  Grattan  60 

; „ Rev.  John,  O.F.M.  132, 204 

I “ Esmonde  ” chalice  ...  224 

Everard,  Rt.  Rev.  Abbot 
' O.Cist.  ...  106110 


Fanning,  Rev.  James,  P.P.  ...  35 

,,  Rev.  Matthew,  P.P.  69 

Faree  (chapelry)  ...  ...  99,  101 

Farrenamanagh  (Monksland)  53 

Ferghal,  Bp.  of  Ferns  ...  226 

Ferns,  Abbey  of  (O.S.A.)  ...  27,  32 

Ferns,  parish  of  ...  27-33 

Fearann  na  gCenel  ...  156 

Ferrycarrig  (see  Glynn) 

Fethard  (see  Templetown) 

Ffrench,  Rev.  Canon  ...  40 

Finn  Mac  Cumhal  ...  115 

Finnachta,  Bp.  of  Ferns  ...  226 

Finncheallach  do.  ...  226 

Fitzgerald,  Rev.  Francis,  P.P.  79 

„ Rev.  Maurice  ...  161 

“ Fitzgerald  ” Chalice  ...  224 

Fitzharris,  V.  Rev.  Richard  xiv,  xv,  84 
“ Fitzhenry  ” chalice  ...  225 

Fitzhenry,  Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  144 

„ V.  Rev.  Michael  (Canon)  144 
„ Rev.  Michael,  P.P.  ...  16,  207 

,,  Rev.  Robert,  Adm.  ...  8 

„ Rev.  R.  E.,  C.C.  ...  43 

Fitzstephen,  Robert  ...  143 

Flanagan.  Rev.  James,  O.F.M.  14 

Flathghus,  Bp.  of  Ferns  ...  22  6 

Fleming,  Most  Rev.  (Archbishop)  166 
„ Rev.  Christopher,  O.F.M.  14 
Foley,  V.  Rev.  Denis  (Canon)  160 
„ Most  Rev.  John  (Bishop)  195 
„ Most  Rev.  Thomas  (Bishop)  194 
Forristal,  Rev.  Aidan,  P.P.  ...  43,  44 
Fortune,  V.  Rev.  Wm.  (Canon) 

V.F.  ...174, 183 
„ V.  Rev.  William  ...  201 

„ Rev.  Martin,  P.P.  ...  63 

Fordrum  (Tara  Hill)  ...  60 

Forth,  Mountain  of  ...148, 188 

Frayne,  Mother  Baptist  ...  137 

French,  Rev.  James,  P.P.  xviii,  167 
„ Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  35 

„ Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  xvi,  226 
„ Robert  ...  ...  227 

„ V.  Rev.  James  (Canon)  35 


239 


Page 

French,  Walter  ...  ...  227 

,,  Walter  (schoolmaster)  227 

“French”  Burse  at  Louvain  210 

French,  Rev.  Richard  (martyr)  204 

Friars  Minor  (Franciscan)  see  Ennis- 
coRTHY,  New  Ross  and  Wexford. 
Furlong,  Ven.  John  (Archdeacon)  103 

,,  Philip,  of  Horetown  lOO 

„ Rev  Philip,  P.P.  ...  159 

„ V'.  R.  P.  M.  (Canon) 

174. 188-229 
AVm.,  P.P.  ...  158 

„ Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop) 

xxiii,226 

Rev.  Nicholas.  P.P.  77, 157 
„ Rev.  J..O.S.A.  ...  90 

„ Rev.  Nicholas.  P.P.  95 

,.  V.  Eev.  John  L. 

(Archdeacon)  60,  69 
..  V.  Eev.  .John  (Canon)  69 

Ver}- Rev.Thomas(Canon)22 
„ Eev.  Philip,  P.P.  ...  233 

„ Eev.William,  O. Cist. ,126, 204 

Furseystovvn  ...  ...  169 


Galbally  ...  ...  20 

Garr  (Mass-House)  ...  19 

Garrane  ...  ..  52 

Garryhubbock  ...  ...  155 

Gelosse,  Rev.  Stephen,  S.J.  ...  84 

Glanbrien  (chapel)  ...  xx,  45 

Glandoran  (Mass-House)  ...  58 

Glascarrig.  Priory  of  ...  70 

Glynn,  Brothers  ...  93 

Glynn,  parish  of  ...  159-161 

Goold,  Most  Rev.  Dr. 

(Archbishop)  192-3 
Gorey,  parish  of  ...  57-61 

“ Gorey  ” chalice  ...  225 

Grace,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop,  195 

Graham,  Rev.  Charles,  P.P.  208 

Graignamanagh  (see  Duisk) 
Grannell,  Rev.  Francis,  O.F.M.  14 

,,  James  (i6i6)  ...  227 

,,  Rev.  John,  P.P.  ..  xviii,16 
,,  Thady,  P.P.  xviii,  16 

„ Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  233 

„ Rev.  Thady,  P.P.  ...  76 

Grantstown  (see  Clonmines). 

Great  Island  ...  ...  110 

Green,  V.  Rev.  Canon  ...  201 


Groffield,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  226 


I 

I 

I 

i 


Hanton,  Rev.  William  (1652)  140 

Hanton,  Rev.  William  ...  136 

Harper,  Rev.  James,  P.P.  ...  69 

Harpur,  Rev.  Walter,  C.C.  114 
Hartley,  Rev.  James,  P.P.  ...  103 

Hay,  Patrick  (martyr)  ...  204 

„ Patrick  (1613)  ...  227 


Page 


Hay,  1'.  Rev.  Thomas  (Dean)  185 

Hayes,  Rev.  Richard,  O.F.M.  98 

Heavey,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  90 
Henihan,  Mother  Victoire  ...  43 

Herron,  Eev.  Nicholas  ...  30,  50 

Hendrick,  Eev.  Michael,  P.P.  4 
Herron,  Eev,  Walter  ...127,234 

Herlewyn,  O.Cist.  (Bishop) ...  110 

Hickey,  Eev.  Michael,  P.P.  ...  100 

Hogan,  V.  Eev.  Jeremiah  (Canon)  119 
Hook  (see  Templetown) 

Hore,  Eev.  David,  P.P.  ...  150 

„ Eev.  Nicholas  (1642)  ...  277 

,.  Rev.  Patrick  (I644)  ...  181 

..  Rev.  Nicholas  ...  96 

„ Rev.  Philip  (1652)  ...  277 

„ Rev.  James,  P.P.  ...  50 

„ Rev.  Denis,  P.P.  ...  59 

„ Rev.  Thomas,  P.P.  ...  63 

„ V.  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon)  47 
Horetown,  Carmelite  Friary  at  100 
Hornsby,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  226 
Howling,  Rev.  John,  S.J.  ...  227 

Houseland  Castle ...  ...  115 

Hewlett,  Rt.  Eev.  Monsignor  201 
Hubert,  Most  Eev,  Dr  (Bishop)  226 
Hugh,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  226 
Hughes,  Father,  O C.C.  ...  100 

„ Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop^  191 
Hunt,  Eev.  John,  O S. A.  ...  90 

Hy  Duagh,  Dearier}'  of  ...  67 

Hy  Kinsellagh  ...  xxiv,  15 

Hyland,  Dermot.  O.S.A.  ...  228 

Inch  ...  ...  ...99,121 

Ingram,  V.  Eev.  John  (Canon)  169 
Ishartmon  ...  ...140,234 

Ivory,  Rev.  John,  O.F.M.  ...  133 

Jones,  Eev.  Laurence  ...  69,  225 

Kavanagh,  Art  Mac  Murrough  3 
,,  Art  buidhe  ...  xv 

.,  T>ona\  fuscus  ...  12 

,.  Dr.  George  ...  90 

„ Eev.  James,  P.P.  71 

„ Rev.  James,  P.P.  142 

„ Rev.  John,  C.C.  46 

,.  V.  Rev.  John  (Canon)  187 
„ V.  Rev.  Michael 

(Dean)  135-6,87 

,.  Eev.  Daniel,  P.P.  58, 65 

,,  V.  Rev.  Francis  (Canon)65 
„ Mother  Teresa  ...  92 

„ Rev.  P.  F.,  O.F.M. ...  134 

Keating,  Most  Rev,  Dr. 

(Bishop)  xxi,  xxii 

,.  Eev.  Alexander  (Dean)  140 

,.  Eev.  James,  P.P.  ...  26 

Eev.  John,  P.P.  ...  71 


240 


Page 

Keating,  Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  157 

„ Rev.  Michael  P.P. ...  71 

„ V.  Rev.  Patrick  (Canon)  173 
„ Rev.  James,  P.P.  ...  119 

„ Rev.  E.  D.  Keating. 

S.J.,P.P.  127 

Kearns,  Rev.  Mogue  ...158,229 

Kehoe,  Rev,  George,  P.P.  ...  109 

„ Rev.  John,  O.S.A.  ...  146 

.,  Rev.  Paul,  P.P.  ...  23 

Kelly,  Rev.  Denis  (reputed  saint)  205 
„ Rev.  Richard,  P.P.  ...  118 

„ Rev.  Michael,  Adm. ...  129 

,,  Most  Rev.  Michael 

(Archbishop)  196 
Kenny,  Rev.  Denis  ...128, 157 

„ Mother  Augustine  ...  137 

Kilanerin.  parish  of  ...  73-75 

Kilbraney  ...  ...  98 

Kilbride  (the  Ballagh)  ...  49 

Kilbride  (Duncannon)  ...  107 

Kilbride-Glynn  ...  159 

Kilbride  (Ferns)  ...  30 

Kilbride  (Taghmon)  ...  183 

Kilcavan  ...  ...  73, 74 

Kilcarbery  ...  ...  20 

Kilclogan  Castle  ...  115 

Kilcomb  ..  ...  33 

Kilcommoii  ...  ...  62, 64 

Kilcormack  ...  ...  49 

Kilcowan  (Ballybrennan)  ..  IS,  2# 
„ (Rathangan)  ...176, 178 
Kildavin,  ruined  church  of  ...  174 


Kildermot,  oratory  at  ...  60 

Kilgarvan  ...  94,  181,  184 

Kilkevan  (Bannow)  ...  143 

Killag  (castle  and  cemetery)  178 

Killann  ...  ...  21,53 

Killaveney  (see  Annacurra) 
Killegney  ...  ...  21,52 

Killenagh  ...  ...  68 

Killesk  (Suttons)  ...  108 

Killesk  (Blackwater)  ...  149 

Killiane  ...  ...171,175 

Killilanc  (St.  Helen  s)  ...185, 186 
Killily  ...  ...149,151 

Killincooly  ...  ...  76,  78 

Killinick  ...  .140,  142 

Kilmachree  ...  ...171,174 

Kilmakilloge  (see  Gorey) 
Killmeashall  (see  Newtownbarry) 
Kilmannon  ...  ...  179 

Kilmokea  (Great  Island)  ...  108 

Kilmallock  ...  ...156,157 

Kilmore,  parish  of  ...  162-165 

“ Kilmore  ” chalice  ..  224 

Kilmuckridge  (see  Litter) 

Kilnahue  ...  ...  65,  7l 

Kilnamanagh  ...  ...  49 

Kilninor  (Tomcoyle)  ...  73.  75 


Page 

Kilpatrick 

156,  158 

Kilpipe 

64 

Kilrane 

185,  187 

Kilrush,  parish  of 

34-36 

Kilscanlon 

102,104 

Kilscoran 

185 

Kiltealy 

16 

Kiltennel 

83.70 

Kiltrisk 

68 

Kilturk 

162,165 

King,  Rev.  .Matthew,  O.F.M. 

234 

Kinsella,  Rev.  Andrew,  P.P. 

60 

Kinnagh  (see  T intern) 

Kirk,  Rev,  Francis  J. 

39 

Kirwan,  V.  Rev.  John  (Canon)  86 

.,  Rev.  Lawrence  (Canon)  135  173 

Knockavoca  (Monageer) 

40 

Knockavota 

40 

Knockbrandon 

72,  143 

Knocknaskeagh  ... 

50 

Lacy,  Right  Rev.  VVm.  (Abbot)  32 

,,  V.  Rev.  James  (Canon' 

39 

,,  Rev.  Francis,  P.P. 

46 

Lachtnan,  Bishop  of  Ferns  ... 

226 

Lady’s  Island  (parish  of) 

166,  170 

“ Lady’s  Island  ” chalice 

225 

Lambert,  Most  Rev,  Hugh 

(Bishop) 

226 

„ Most  Rev.  Patrick  (Bishop)190 

.,  .Matthew  (martyr)  ... 

204 

„ John  (1609) 

227 

,,  Rev.  Stephen,  P.P.  ... 

167 

„ Rev.  William,  P.P.  ... 

163 

Lamogue  (Kilnahue) 

67 

Lennon,  V.  Rev,  John  (Canon)  178, 234 

Leskinfere 

65,  67 

Ledwige,  Mother  Aloysius  ... 

92 

Lett,  Mother  Josephine 

62 

Limbrick 

68,  74 

Linziestown 

163 

latter,  parish  of 

76,  78 

Loftus  Hall 

116 

Long,  Rev.  James,  P.P. 

39 

Loughnageera 

101 

Lovelock,  Rev.  N.,  P.P. 

22.  233 

Lynam,  Bishop  of  Ferns 

226 

Lynch,  Rev.  J.,  O.S.A. 

90 

Lyng,  Rev.  John  (martyr)  ... 

204 

„ Rev.  John,  P.P. 

100 

„ V.  Rev.  James  (Canon) 

114 

Maciriall  (Mac  Carroll)  Rev  John 

117,  234 

MacConny.  Rev.  James,  P.P.  207 

MacCormack,  Andrew  ...  228 

MacDonagh,  Mother  .4gnes  92 

.,  Rev.  Thomas,  O.F.M.  14 
Mac  Evoy,  Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  94,  206 
.MacKennan,  Rev.  Nicholas,  P.P.  "13 


241 


S 


Page 

Macmine  Castle  ...  ...  'io 

MacMurrough,  Dermot  ...  153 

■MacMurrough  family,  the  ...  74 

MacParson,  “ priest  hunter  ” 29 

Madden.  Rev.  Bryan,  P.P.  . ..102,233 
Magrane,  Rev.  Daniel,  P.P....112, 207 
Maher,  Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  51 

Mahon,  Rev.  John,  O.F'.M.  ...  14 

.Marmion.  Rt.  Rev.  Abbot  ...  48 

Marshall,  Rev.  Francis,  P.P.  31,  7l 
„ Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.  99 

„ William  ...  83 

•Marshalstown  ...  ...  42.43 

Masterson,  Rev.  Henry,  P.P....  65, 212 
Maudlintown  ...  ...  120 

•Mayglass,  parish  of  ...140-142 

■Vlayler,  Rev.  Bernard  E.,  P.P.  31 
„ I'en.  Philip  (Archdeacon)163 
Meehan,  V.  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon)  17 
Meelnagh  (see  Oulart). 

Mernagh,  Rev.  Nicholas,  P.P.  66 
Merten,  Dom.  Aubert,  O.S.B.  48 
“ Meyler”  chalice  ...  ...  224 

Meyler,  Robert  (martyr)  ...  2o4 

,,  Rev.  Nicholas,  P.P. ...  163 

Mitten,  Rev.  Michael,  P.P.  ...  109 

Molloy,  Rev.  Peter,  P.P.  ...  52,207 
Moloney,  Rev.  T.  A.,  O.F.M.  134 
Monamoling  ...  76,  77 

Monart  ...  ...  17,23 

Monageer,  parish  of  . . 37-40 

Monaseed  ...  ...  65 


-Munksgrange  ...  ...  53 

.Moran,  V.  Rev.  Wm.  (Canon)  99 

,,  Rev.  Patrick,  O.S.A,  90 

„ Rev.  Martin.  P.P.  ...  150 

Morris  Castle  ...  78 

.Mountgarret  Castle  ...  89 

Mount  St.  Benedict  ...  72 

Moyacomb  (Magh  da  con)  . . xxiv 

Mulrankin  ...  ...164,165 

Munfin  (Mass  Station)  ...  35 

Murphy,  Rev.  Aedan,  P.P.  ...  34 

,.  V.  Rev.  Bryan.  P.P.  182 

„ Rev.  Dudley,  P.P.  ...  234 

,.  Rev.  James,  P.P.  ...  47 

„ Rev.  James,  P.P.  ...  77 

„ V.  Rev.  James  (Canon)  80 
„ „ „ (Canon)  71,100 

,,  Rev.  John  ('98)  ...  xx,229 

„ Rev.  Edward,  O.F.M.  234 

,,  V.  Rev.  George  (Canon)  114 
„ V.  Rev.  Joseph  (Canon)  12o 

„ Re\\  Michael  (Canon)  79 
Rev.  Michael ’(98)  ...xx,  229 
,,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  xxiii 
„ V.  Rev.  Patrick  (Dean)  160 
V.  Rev.  William  (Dean)  182 
“ Murnevin”  (see  Adamstow.n). 
.Murrintown  (see  Piercestown). 


i 

I 


Page 


Nash  ...  ...  ...  85 

Neville,  Most  Rev.  Laurence 

(Bishop)  ...  xi 
„ Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.  ...  95 

Nevin,  Rev.  Edmond,  O.C.C.  loO 
Newbawn  (see  Adamstown) 
Newcastle  ...  ...  94 

Newport,  Rev,  Nicholas.  O.S.A.  146 

„ Rev.  Patrick,  O.S.A.  140 

„ Rev.  Edward,  P.P.  153 

New  Ross,  parish  of  ...  83-93 

“ New  Ross  ” chalice  ...  224 

Newtorvn  ...  ...  17 

Newtownbarry,  parish  of  ...  41-44 

Nowlan,  Re\'.  James  (Canon)  85 
„ Rev.  Patrick,  O.F.M.  I3,  234 

O'Brien,  Re\'.  Charles,  P.P.  63 

,,  V.  Rev.  Daniel 

(martyr)  xvi,  205 
„ V,  Rev.  James 


(Canon)  96,  158 
„ Rev.  John.  P.P.  ...  78 

„ Rev.  Michael,  P.P.  19,  213 

O’Byrnc,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  32 
,.  Feagh  Mac  Hugh...  28 

„ Rev.  Thomas,  E.I.  170 

„ Rev.  Turlogh  (1612)  xiv 

O'Cahan,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  226 

O’Callaghan.  Most  Rev.  Dr. 

Bishop  ...  ...  xviii 

O'Colman,  Most  Rev.  Dr. 

(Bishop)  ...  ...  226 

O'Connell,  Rev.  Maurice,  S.J.  84 
O'Connor,  V.  Rev.  Denis  (Canon)  31 
„ Rev.  J.  M..  O.S.A.  225 

„ Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  84 

„ Rev.  Myles,  P.P. ...  16 

„ Rev.  Roderick,  P.P.  172 

V.  Rev.  Patrick  (Canon)25 
„ Rev.  Thomas,  P.P.  120 

O'Corrin,  Rev.  Maurice  ...  41 

O'Cullen,  Rev.  Nicholas  ...  xir- 

O’Donegan,  Most  Rev.  Dr. 

(Bishop)  ...  ...  226 

O’Donnell.  Most  Rev.  Dr. 

(Bishop)  ...  ...  226 

O’Doran,  Rev.  Coll,  O.S.A. ...  189 

O’Doyle,  Rev.  David  ...  xiv 

..  Rev.  William  ...  xiv 

O’Driihan,  Rt.  Re\\  Daniel  xiv, 84 

Rt.  Rev.  Dermot 

(Abbot)  ...  32 

,,  Rt.  Rev.  Thomas 

(Abbot)  ...  32 

O'Dunne,  Most  Rev.  Dermot 

(Bishop)  ...  ...  189 

O’Dwyer,  Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.  160 

O’Farrell,  Rev.  Andrew,  P.P.  120 

„ Rev.  Robert  ...  16 


242 


P.'iSe 

O’Farrell,  Rev.  Timothy,  P.P.  50 
O’Flaherty,  Rev.  Edward, P.P.  113,114 
Ogle,  Right  Hon.  George  ...  20,  72 
O’Gorman,  Rev.  Jeremiah,  P.P.  100 
„ V.  Rev.  Mark  (Canon'l64 
O’Hare,  Matthew  E.  ...  Cl 

O’Hay,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  220 
O’Kearney,  ,,  ,.  ...  224 

O’Keeffe,  Rev.  Henry,  P.P,  ...  22 

„ V.  Rev.  Mark  (Canon)73.228 
Old  Ross  (see  Cushinstown) 
O’Leary,  Rev.  E.  A.,  O.S..^.  90 

„ John  (martyr)  ...  204 

,,  Rev.  L.,  O.F.M.  ...  13 

O’Lynam,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishopj  266 
„ Most  Rev.  M.  „ 226 

„ Most  Rev.  Ugaire  „ 226 

O’Molloy,  Most  Rev.  Ailbe 

(Bishop)  ...  ...  ix,  X 

O’Morchoe,  Rev.  Tadhg, 

O.F.M.  ...  ...  12, 204 

O’Neill,  Rev.  William,  P.P.  15.3 
„ V.  Rev.  W’illiam  (Canon)  30 
.,  \’.  Rev.  William  (Canon)  74 

O’Nolan,  right  of  inauguration  by  40 


O’Rodhacain,  Most  Rev,  Dr. 

(Bishop)  ...  ...  226 

O’Toole,  Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.  172 

„ V.  Rev.  Garret  (Canon)177 
O’Treacy,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  220 
Oulart,  parish  of  ...  ...  49-51 

Oulartleigh  ...  ...  51 

Owenduff  ...  ...  117 

Oylegate,  parish  of  • ...  45-48 


Parker,  V.  Rev.  John  (Canon)  31 
Parle,  James  (1693)  •••  -27 

„ Rev.  James,  C.C.  ...  42 

Paye,  V.  Rev.  Bonaventure, 

O.F.M.  ...  133 

„ V.  Rev.  Thomas,  O.F.M.  13 

„ V.  Rev.  Walter.  O.F.M.  133 
Pettit,  Rev.  Clement,  P.P.  ...  163 

„ V.  Rev.  Clement  (Canon)  46 
Pierce,  Rev.  John  (1612)  ...xiv,  160 

Piercestown,  parish  of  ...171-175 

Poulfur  ...  ...  ...  Ill 

Poiilmanagh  ...  ...  174 

Poulpeasty  ...  ...  21 

Power,  Most  Rev.  Peter  (Bishop)  xiii 
,,  Most  Rev.  T.  J.  (Bishop)  193 
„ V.  Rev,  Peter  (Paris)  228 
Prandy,  Rev.  James,  P.P.  ...  80 

Preban  (see  .Annacurr.-v) 
Prendergast,  V.  Rev.  P'rancis 

(Canon)  ...  24 

„ V.  Rev,  James 

(Canon)  ...  I67 

Purcell,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  xi 


Page 


Purcell,  Most  Rev.  Dr.,O.S.A. 

(Bishop)  ...  226 
„ V.  Rev.  Joseph  (Canon)  177 
„ Rev.  Nicholas  ...  114 
„ Rev.  William,  A dm.  6-5 

Ouigley,  V.  Rev.  James  (Canon)  154 
I „ Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  234 

j Quilty,  Rev.  John  (f6i2)  ...  xiv 


■ Rahaile  (site  of  castle)  ...  47 

Raheen  ...  ...  ...  95 

Ram,  Rt.  Rev.  Thos.  (Prot.  Bp.)  xiv 

1 Ram  family,  conversion  of  ...  .59 

i Ramsfort  ...  ...  ...  57 

i Ramsgrange,  parish  of  ...  105-107 

j Rath  (Glynn)  ...  ...  101 

I “ Ramsgrange”  chalice  ...  225 

I Rathangan.  parish  of  ...176-179 

I Rathaspeck  ...  ...174,175 

I Rath  Breasail,  Synod  of  ...  ix 

! Rathgory  ...  ...99,101 

I Rathannan  Castle  ...  174 

I Rathmacknee  (see  Ptercestown) 
Rathmore  ...  ...  109 

Rathnure,  parish  of  ...  52-53 

Rathroe  (chapelry)  ...  105 

Rathronan  Castle  ...  165 

' Redmond,  Rev.  James.  P P.  103 

j ,,  Rev.  Edward,  P.P.  29, 3o 

I ,,  Rev.  John  (’98)  ...  229 


Rev.  Richard,  P.P.108,200 
Rev.  Aedan,  P.P.  21,208 
Rev.  Mark.  P.P.  159.  208 
Rev.  Nicholas  P.P.  CS.  69 


,,  Rev.  Edmond,  P.P.  209 

.,  Rev.  Francis.  O.F.M.  19 

,,  Rev.  Daniel 

(Canon)  ...  I60 

,,  Rev.  James  (1715)  227 

j ,,  Rev.  Martin,  P.P.  209 

I ,,  Rev.  Matthev/,  P.P.  77 

j ,,  Rev.  Mogue,  P.P.  l6 

,,  Rev.  Patrick.  P.P.  181 

Reville.Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  19.S 
Richard  of  Northampton  (Bishop)226 
Richards,  Solomon  ...  167 

j Rickard,  Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  103 

I Rev.  Michael  (Lisbon)  227 

Rickards.  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  194 
Ring  (Tacumshane)  ...  213 

Rinn  Dubhain  (Hook)  ...  115 

“ Riverchapcl  ” chalice  ...  225 

Roche,  Most  Rev;  Dr.  (i)  Bishop  226 

i „ Most  Rev.  Dr.  (2)  Bishop  220 
j „ V.  Rev,  John  (Canon)  110 

„ Rev.  John,  O.S.A.  ...  90 

I „ V.  Rev.  James  (Canon)  31, 129 

i „ Rev.  John  J.,  O.F.M.  20l 

^ ,,  Rev.  David,  P.P.  ...  127 


243 


rage 

Roche,  V.  Rev.  Clement  (Canon)xviii 


„ Rev.  Henry  (Dean)  209 

,,  V.  Rev.  Matthew,  V. A.  189 

„ Rev.  Nicholas,  P.P.  ...  207 

„ Rev.  Paul,  P.P.  ...  127 

,,  Rev.  Patrick  (Lisbon)  227 

„ Rev.  Philip  (’98)  ...  xx,229 

„ Ven.  Thomas 

(.Archdeacon  j 168 

„ Rev.  William,  P.P.  ...  17 

“■  Roche”  Burse  at  Louvain  ...  210 

Rochford,  Rev.  Nicholas  (1550)  126 

„ Bro.,  O.P'.M.  (martyr)  204 
Rochfort,  Rev.  Robert,  S.J.  ...  227 

Roger,  of  Wexford  (Bp.  of  OssorjOlSO 
Rogers,  Rev.  Thomas,  P.P.  ...  22,52 
Roice,  Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  66 

Rosbercon  ...  ...  xxiv 

Rosegarland  ...  ...  148 

Kos-mic-truin  ...  ...  87 

Rosminogue  ...  ...  72 

Rossdroit  ...  ...  21 

Rossiter,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  xvii 
„ Rev.  John,  M.SS.  ...  11 

„ Rev.  Joseph,  O.S.A.  89 

,.  Rev.  John,  O.S.A.  ...  4,89 

,,  Rev.  Patrick  (1650)  227 

(1685)  228 

,.  Rev.  Robert,  C.M.  201 

V.  Rev.  T.  J.,  O.F..M.  201 

„ V.  Rev.  Walter 


(Canon)  V.G.  60, 23" 
Rosslare  (see  T ago.vt) 

Rowe,  V.  Rev.  Walter  (Canon)  187 
Ryan,  Rev.  James,  P.P.  ...  39 

„ Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.  ...  95 

„ Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  xx,  xxi 
„ Rev.  William  (Arklow)  75 

St.  Abban  ...  ix.  96, 110 

„ Aedan  ix.  15,  18,  27,  99, 101,  111 
„ Ann  ...  ...  53, 164,  176 

„ Brendan  ...  ...  72, 143 

„ Brigid  34,  79,  107,  125,  149,  156, 

161,  171 

„ Brigid’s  Well  36,  70.  76.  80, 151. 


165 

„ Brioc  ...  ...  ...  188 

„ Cairbre  ...  ...  20 

„ Canoe  (Mocanoc)  ...  76,  78 

„ Catherine  ...  lol,  106, 165, 171 
.,  Cillene  (Bishop  of  Ferns)  226 
..  Clement  ...  ...  23 

„ Coemhan  ...  ...  74, 152 

„ Colman  (Mac  Eochy)  ...  15,  17 
.,  Colman’s  Well ...  ...  17 

„ Columba  ...  33.  67,  152 

.,  Columba  Crossaire  ...  34 

„ Coman  ...  ...  62 

„ Cormac  ...  ...  49 


Page 

.St.  Cronan 

51 

,,  Cuana 

20,  165,  178 

„ Cuaran  (Mo  Cuaroc) 

45 

„ Cyprian 

155 

„ David  ...  47. 

158,  162. 165 

.,  Deicola  garbJi  ... 

18 

„ Deguman 

171,  170,  179 

„ Devan  (Daimhin) 

174 

„ Dogmael 

70 

„ Dubhan 

111 

.,  Eigneach 

23 

,.  Elloc 

111 

„ Eusebius 

...155,161 

,,  Evin  ... 

83 

.,  F'aoile 

149 

„ Fintan  (Munnu) 

166,  169, 180 

,.  George 

...  165 

„ Helen 

...116, 189 

„ Ibar  (Iberius)  ... 

ix 

„ Inick 

...106, 185 

„ St.  James 

...108,  111 

„ John  18,24,26,126,130 

„ John’s  Priory  ... 

25 

„ Kilran 

...117, 125 

„ Killian 

156 

„ Killian’s  Well  ... 

158 

„ Laurence 

161 

„ Leonard’s 

...117,120 

„ Lugidan 

53 

,,  Maelman 

152.  155,  156 

„ Margaret 

...152, 170 

„ Martin 

171 

„ Marv  23.  32.  36.  67.  75,  151 

„ Mary  Magdalene 

...  41,125 

„ Menoc  (St.  Enan) 

72 

„ Michael 

125,  129,  188 

Mochua 

...  ix,  226 

„ Mogue  (see  St.  Aedan) 

„ Moling  (Bishop  of  Ferns) 

ix,  66,  226 

„ Mannon 

179 

,.  Mosacer  (Tomhaggard)  ...  162 

„ Munnu  (St.  Fintan) 

...180,184 

„ Nicholas 

154,  155,  161 

„ Olave  (St.  Tullock) 

125 

.,  Patrick 

62.  68,  165 

„ Patrick’s  Well  23,  53,  62,  162,  165 

„ Peter 

...  51.  125 

„ Peter’s  Well 

5J 

SS.  Peter  and  Paul 

126 

St.  Ruadhan  (Kilrane) 

...185, 188 

.,  Sampson 

169 

.,  Saviour’s 

83 

.,  Selskar  (Holy  Sepulchre)  130-1 

.,  Senan  (Templeshannon)...ix.  3,  11 

„ Senan’s  Well  ... 

12 

.,  Sillan  (Mo-Silloc) 

57 

„ Sincheal  (Kiltennel) 

...  68.  70 

„ Thomas 

151 

.,  Veocc  (Vogue)  ... 

...166.  169 

244 


Page 

St.  John  Geoffrey  (Bishop  of  Ferns)226 
„ John  (Bishop  of  Ferns)  ...  226 

„ Mullins  ...  ...ix,  xxiv 

„ Sevo  Gabriel  (Bishop)  ...  226 

Saltmills  ...  ...118,120 

Saunders,  Rev.  Edmund,  P.P.  209 

„ Rev.  Edward.  O.F.M.  234 

Saunderscourt  ...  ...  158 

Scallan,  Rev.  Ambrose,  O.F.M.  14 

,,  Rev.  John,  O.F.M.  ...  14 

„ Rev.  Francis,  P.P.  ...  168 

„ V.  Rev.  John  (Canon)  20 

„ „ „ • • 182 
„ Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  190 
Seanbotha  ...  ...  15 

Screen  (St.  Nicholas)  ...  154-5 

Scullabogue  ..  ...  97 

Shalloe,  V.  Rev.  John  fCanon)  95  153 
„ Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  58 

Shell,  Rev.  Hugh,  P.P.  ...  38,  207 
„ V.  Rev.  Patrick  (Canon)  20 
Sheridan,  Rev.  Thomas,  P.P.  47 

„ V.  Rev.  Nicholas T. 

(Canonj 

„ V.  Rev.  P.  C.  (Canon) 

Shiel,  Most  Rev.  Dr.,  O.F.M. 


^Bishop)  ...  ...  193 

Sinnott,  Rev.  James,  PP.  ...  77 

Rev.  Dr.John,  P.P.  78, 199  200 
„ Rev.  William  ...  4 

„ Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  69 

,,  Rev.  John  ...  4 

„ Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  58 

,,  Rev.  Richard,  O.F.M.  xvi,  132 

,,  V.  Rev-  Patrick  (Canon)  59 

,,  Rev.  Richard,  O.F.M.  14 

,,  Rev.  Nicholas,  P.P.  16 

„ Rev.  Walter,  P.P.  ...  65,  80 

V.  Rev.  Matthew  (Canon)  174 
,,  Rev.  Peter,  P.P.  ...  95 

,,  V.  Rev.  VV^illiam  (Canon)  115 
Slievenagrane  ...  ...  151 

Solsborough  ...  ...  37 


Spenser,  Nicholas  (schoolmaster)  227 
Stafford,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  177 
„ V.  Rev.  Mun.  (Canon)  167 
„ V.  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon) 

69,  153 

„ Rev.  Peter,  O.F.M., 

(martyr)  204 

,,  Rev.  Raymond,  O.F.M., 

(martyr)  204 
Staples,  Rev.  Thomas,  P.P.  ...  66 

„ V.  Rev.  Canon  (Wicklow)  201 
„ V.  Rev.  N.  C.,  O.C.C.  201 
Sullivan,  Rev.  Murtagh,  P.P.  99 
Sutton,  V.  Rev.  John  (Canon)  5,  46 
„ V.  Rev.  Francis,  O.F.M.  14 
„ Rev.  Robert,  P.P.  ...  18.233 
,,  Rev.  William,  P.P.  ...  233 


Page 

Sutton,  Rt.  Rev.  John  (Abbot)  121 
Suttons,  parish  of  ...  ...  108-110 

Sweetman,  Rev.  J.  F.,  O.S.B.  72 
Sweetman,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop) 

xix,  220 

„ Visitation  Book  of 

212-214 

Synnott,  V.  Re\'.  Nicholas  (Canon) 


Rev.  Patrick,  P.P. 

149,  209 
46 

It  n it 

234 

,,  Rev.  Richard,  O.F.M. 

(martyr)  204 

„ Rev.  Paul,  O.F.M. 

(martyr)  204 

Tacumshane  ...  166 

167,  169 

Taghmon,  parish  of 

..  180-184 

Tagoat,  parish  of  ... 

..  185-188 

Talbot,  Richard  (1746) 

228 

Tallagh 

111 

Tara  Hill 

..  60.  74 

Templenacrow 

96 

Templescoby 

24 

Templeshannon 

..3,11,12 

Templesaileach 

40 

Templeshelin 

96 

Templetown,  parish  of 

..  111-116 

Templeudigan 

..  52,  53 

Terry  rath 

..102,10.3 

Tincoon, 

47 

Tinnacross 

37 

Tintern,  Abbey  of... 

120 

Tintern,  parish  of... 

..  117-121 

Tobar  Chriost 

67 

Toberahilleen 

1.58 

Toberfinick 

1.58 

Toberlomina 

51 

Tobermunnu 

184 

Tobermurry 

36 

Tobernaclura 

..  51 

Tobin,  Rev.  Francis,  O.F.M 

13 

Tomacork,  parish  of 

..  79-80 

Tomhaggard 

164 

Tomb 

..  65,66 

Toome 

40 

Tubberclumain 

40 

Tullibards 

ICl 

Turner,  V.  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon) 

„ Rev.  John,  P.P. 

XV,  167 
..  140,  141 

Valence,  Aymer  de 

139 

Verdon,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop) 

„ Rev.  John,  D.D. 

xvii,  226 
29 

Wadding,  Most  Rev,  Dr.  (Bishop) 

xvi,  229 

„ Rev.  William  (1612)  xiv 


245 


Page 

Wadding,  V'.  Rev.  John  (1632)  189 

„ Rev.  John  (1601)  ...  227 

Waddy,  Dr.  ...  ...  186 

Wafer,  Rev.  Francis,  P.P.  ...  42 

*•  Walker,  Dr.”  ...  ...  xviii 

Wallop,  Sir  Henry...  ...  12,204 

Walrand,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  x,226 
Walshe,  Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.  ...  xviii 
,,  Rev.  David  (1540)  ...  18O 

„ Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  192 
„ Rev.  Richard,  P.P  ...  176 

“ Walshe,  James”  (see  O’Druhav, 

Rev.  Dr.) 

Walshe,  Rev.  Richard,  O.F.M.  134  1 

„ Rev.  James,  P.P.  ...  163  j 

„ V.  Rev.  John  (Canon)  5.3  ] 

,.  Ven.  James  (Archdeacon)  168 


Walshe,  V.  Rev.  Patrick  (Canon)  168 
„ V.  Rev.  James,  O F.M.  134 
„ V.  Rev.  Thomas  (Canon)  160 
Warren,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  xxiii 
Wexford,  parish  of...  ...  126-139 

Whitechurch  ...  ...  161 

Whitechurch  Glynn  (see  Glynn) 
Whitty,  V.  Rev.  George  (Canon)  153 
,,  Most  Rev.  Dr.  (Bishop)  xi,  226 
,.  V.  Rev.  Waller  (Dean)  140 
.,  Ven.  William 

(Archdeacon)  168 
„ William  (Mayor)  ...  139 

Wickham,  Rev.  John,  P.P.  ...  46 

Wotton,  Rev.  George,  O.F.M.  18,208 

Young,  Rev.  John ...  ...  176 


246 


'I  ■ 


• ■ 

\ 


-:iV 


i 


% 


• ■ . N 


BOSTON  COLLEGE 


lllllll 

II I 

III 

111 

O' 

CO 

66167  3 

2403 

Flood . 

AUTHOR 


TITLE 

i'  ^40  3 


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